The saga of Tristan Thompson continues as the Cleveland Cavaliers cannot get the power forward signed to a new deal. Currently a restricted free agent, all eyes are pointing to Thompson signing his one-year qualifying offer and then heading elsewhere in 2016. While the Cavaliers want to avoid that, their relationship with Thompson might be too far gone at this point and his agent, Rich Paul, is reporting that teams are lining up to offer a max contract next season.
According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, Thompson will not accept anything less than a max contract and the Cavaliers simply cannot make that deal work right now as their $80 million offer was declined. As a result, Paul is saying his client will be heading elsewhere next summer with a number of teams ready to give him the big contract. According to Michael Scotto of Sheridan Hoops, Paul says three teams have already made it clear they will offer max money to Thompson as an unrestricted free agent.
Rich has already stated that he believes the Toronto Raptors are interested, but what about the Boston Celtics? According to the Boston Herald, team president Danny Ainge is looking to make a major move either this season or next. It is no secret that the Celtics had a disappointing offseason and have plenty of draft picks and trade assets to get a big-named player either this summer or the next. Thompson could be a major target for the Celtics. They could easily try and trade for him this season or they could wait and have the cap space to give out a max contract. With the salary cap exploding in 2016, the Celtics could easily make a max contract work.
However, there is another trade deal the Celtics are reportedly eyeing. According to ESPN's Kevin Pelton, the Celtics are a landing spot for Markieff Morris. The Phoenix Suns power forward has been fined for announcing that he wants a trade from the franchise, but that will not stop interest if he is truly available. If the Celtics were to show interest in Morris this summer, the chances they chase Thompson in 2016 are slim.
The big question for the Celtics is what is their commitment in Jared Sullinger and Tyler Zeller? According to the Boston Globe, the Celtics have started contract negotiations with both players. Any trade the Celtics eye, either one of those players will have to be included in the deal. If Boston re-signs them before the season then a trade will be hard to come by simply because of their contracts.
