Thompson Makes Too Much Money

Tristian Thompson is one of the reasons why LeBron James should never take a GM’s role. As a teammate, and after such a crushing Finals defeat, James did what he thought was best for the team especially after the Cavs lost Irving and Love against the Golden State Warriors. James wanted a gladiator by his side, and for that moment, Thompson was that guy.

The Cavs opened up their checkbook to the tune of $82 million thinking Thompson was set to explode. Not so fast. Even with Love missing time over the next few seasons, Thompson never found the same rhythm he had before the large deal. What must the Cavs ask themselves now is what type of packages are they willing to accept for Thompson?

The sad part about the Thompson deal is that there is no team or player option. The Cleveland Cavaliers are stuck with Thompson until he becomes a free agent in 2020. Are there any teams willing to take on that large of a contract for the next two seasons for a player who may have hit his ceiling four years ago?

While he’s still young (27), Thompson must go to a team that has a playmaker like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, or a Damian Lillard who can get him the ball in his sweet spot at the right time.

By shedding his contract, the Cavaliers should be able to get a quality starter or a few reserves and save some cash along the way.

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