According to LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a good offseason, but there is still work to be done. That statement likely included the contract to Tristan Thompson and the potential return of JR Smith. The Cavaliers have yet to get the power forward restricted free agent locked done to a contract while they continued to discuss trade options. With negotiations stalling, will Thompson's contract factor into other moves?
According to general manager David Griffin in a talk with the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the contract to Thompson will take time. The Cavaliers fully intend to bring the power forward back in 2015 and the team is not concerned about getting his deal done before signing other players in free agency.
"We can focus on getting business done in whatever order it happens now," Griffin said, via the Plain Dealer. "We were really fixated on getting the people done that we already have first and now I think it's just a matter of coming to an agreement with all of those people and finding the right deal for everyone. I don't think it's going to matter timing-wise. He's restricted. We really like him. I think we'll end up getting something done. I wouldn't characterize it as frustrating in any way."
One matter of business the Cavaliers were looking to get done was player trades as the team was shopping Brendan Haywood and his non-guaranteed contract. There was interest from both the Los Angeles Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets, but that has since disappeared. According to ESPN, Joe Johnson is no longer available after the departure of Deron Williams while the Clippers have turned away from Haywood.
According to Griffin, the team is not thinking about a trade of Varejao despite the recent talks. There were reports that teams like the Nets were aiming to make a trade with Cleveland, but they did not want the center in the package. Since then, Griffin has stated their priority with Varejao is having him healthy, not trading him. Ethan Skolnick of Bleacher Report is reporting that Griffin is confidence Varejao, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving will be healthy come training camp.
That leaves Smith as the biggest question mark in the coming months. The Plain Dealer is reporting that the Cavaliers are very open to bringing the shooting guard back, but salary demands are an issue. The Cavaliers will already be paying luxury tax penalties this upcoming season and cannot add too much more onto that. Smith will likely not get the contract he was hoping for if he wants to return to Cleveland.
