Tristan Thompson, Ray Allen and NBA's role in Deng report; Jason Lloyd's Final Thoughts of summer
By JASON LLOYD Published: September 23, 2014
Twenty-three thoughts for the return of No. 23 with the start of training camp just days away…
1. Don’t rule out the possibility of Tristan Thompson starting at center. While it has been widely assumed Anderson Varejao would start in the middle, a theory has been floated within the organization recently that by starting Thompson, coach David Blatt could better limit Varejao’s minutes and help protect him from injury. There is plenty of time to make that final decision, but it’s worth noting the idea has at least been discussed.
2. Regardless of whether he starts, Thompson is expected to play a lot of minutes at center this season. He is undersized there, but athletic enough to handle the job. He has played there off and on throughout his first three years in the league.
3. What hasn’t been discussed is a contract extension for him – at least not yet. The two sides haven’t really discussed numbers, one source involved in the process said recently, but that isn’t a surprise. Kyrie Irving is the only member of the 2011 class thus far to sign an extension, although guys like Klay Thompson, Kenneth Faried and Kawhi Leonard could be next. The deadline to sign is Oct. 31.
4. There are plenty of tentacles to a potential Thompson extension. He is represented by Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron. He will probably lose his starting spot (although we’ve already outlined how he could remain a starter). Becoming a reserve would decrease his minutes and productivity, yet playing alongside his new cast of teammates could simplify his role (run the floor and rebound) and make him a much better player.
5. He will ask for the type of money previously given to Derrick Favors (four years, $49 million) and Larry Sanders (four years, $44 million). What will hurt Thompson’s case, however, is the Greg Monroe saga. Monroe, by all accounts a better player than Thompson, was forced to sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Pistons after failing to reach agreement on a long-term contract with anyone this summer. He will now be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
6. Monroe was a restricted free agent this year and free to negotiate with anyone, yet even in a summer when teams were spending like drunken sailors on shore leave, Monroe couldn’t find a deal, likely because of the assumption the Pistons would’ve just matched it anyway. Thompson could very well face a similar position next summer.
7. A big extension for Thompson, coupled with Kyrie Irving’s max contract, would’ve crippled the Cavs’ salary cap prior to the return of LeBron James and acquisition of Kevin Love. Now assuming both of those guys remain with the Cavs long term, this team’s payroll will explode high into the luxury tax stratosphere, meaning the Cavs won’t have cap space with or without a Thompson extension. It’s not so much a concern against the cap now as it is how much luxury tax is Dan Gilbert willing to pay. And if history is any indication, the league has yet to find a figure he won’t pay if it means winning.
8. Still, it’s very possible the Cavs and Thompson don’t come to terms on an extension this season and he plays out the final year on his rookie deal, then enters restricted free agency next summer. Given his ties to LeBron, however, it’s difficult to envision a deal not getting done eventually.
9. Ray Allen’s camp still isn’t tipping its hand, but the Cavs are hopeful (optimistic?) he’ll join them at some point this season. Allen still has to decide first if he wants to continue playing, then he must choose a team.
10. The Cavs anticipate starting camp without Allen, which is why they’ve already signed their allotted 20 players for training camp. They only hope to get some clarity from Allen by the end of training camp so they don’t wind up releasing a player who could ultimately help them if he chooses not to come.
11. “Until Ray decides what he wants to do, I know this remains an option,” said James Jones, who was Allen’s teammate in Miami. The two remain friends. “I’m hopeful he’ll join us.”
12. I don’t want to spend this season making constant comparisons between the Cavs and the Heat superpower teams (some will be inevitable), but Lou Amundson might be the Cavs’ poor man version of Chris “Birdman” Andersen – a tough, physical defender and rebounder who was picked off the clearance rack. Both guys are limited offensively, but both bring a lot of energy and tenacity to the court.
13. I would be surprised if Amundson is not on this team in November. David Griffin spent time with him in Phoenix and loves his hustle. Amundson has bounced around the league a lot, but the Cavs believe that’s because of his offensive limitations. It’s difficult to play him in certain rotations because he can’t really score.
14. The Cavs don’t need him to score. They just need him to defend and rebound. At 6-foot-9, Amundson is also undersized at center. But barring a trade, the Cavs will be undersized in the middle with just about anyone they have right now.
15. They like Timofey Mozgov, but the Nuggets have shown no inclination to deal him. There doesn’t appear to be a trade available for any sort of rim protector right now, so the Cavs may look to bundle the trio of players they received from Utah (John Lucas III, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas) in exchange for a trade exception to be used later.
16. The Cavs felt they needed to move Carrick Felix because his contract was guaranteed and they needed the cap space to sign LeBron and all his friends. That prompted the trade with the Jazz for the three non-guaranteed contracts. Now they can flip those contracts to a team looking to create cap room and acquire a small trade exception for future use.
17. The NBA has poked around and asked some questions about the Luol Deng scouting report that was leaked recently, a league source with knowledge of the situation said. But it’s an overstatement to categorize the league’s involvement as an active investigation.
18. The league seems to be approaching this just as the Cavs are: The redacted report clearly seems to indicate it’s a former employee, so there isn’t much that can be done at this point.
19. One thing that seems clear from a number of people I’ve spoken with around the league: Many are upset with the way the Atlanta Hawks, from ownership to the front office, etc… have handled this whole debacle.
20. LeBron is wrapping a commercial shoot in Los Angeles, his final act of summer before reporting to training camp. It was on a movie set, incidentally, where Blatt and James really chatted for the first time this summer. Blatt was in New York with his family and called James, who eagerly invited his family to the set. The Blatts and James families spent time chatting and laughing together.
21. “We’re on the same page, on the same wavelength,” Blatt said. “I’m expecting things to go very smoothly.”
22. Tickets to the preseason games at Xavier and Ohio State are both sold out,according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. No surprise. This team will be playing in front of sellout crowds most of the season.
23. The Cavs are getting an early jump on training camp because of the upcoming Brazil trip. Media day is Friday and the first practice is Saturday. Talk to you then. It’s going to be a wild ride.
By JASON LLOYD Published: September 23, 2014
Twenty-three thoughts for the return of No. 23 with the start of training camp just days away…
1. Don’t rule out the possibility of Tristan Thompson starting at center. While it has been widely assumed Anderson Varejao would start in the middle, a theory has been floated within the organization recently that by starting Thompson, coach David Blatt could better limit Varejao’s minutes and help protect him from injury. There is plenty of time to make that final decision, but it’s worth noting the idea has at least been discussed.
2. Regardless of whether he starts, Thompson is expected to play a lot of minutes at center this season. He is undersized there, but athletic enough to handle the job. He has played there off and on throughout his first three years in the league.
3. What hasn’t been discussed is a contract extension for him – at least not yet. The two sides haven’t really discussed numbers, one source involved in the process said recently, but that isn’t a surprise. Kyrie Irving is the only member of the 2011 class thus far to sign an extension, although guys like Klay Thompson, Kenneth Faried and Kawhi Leonard could be next. The deadline to sign is Oct. 31.
4. There are plenty of tentacles to a potential Thompson extension. He is represented by Rich Paul, who also represents LeBron. He will probably lose his starting spot (although we’ve already outlined how he could remain a starter). Becoming a reserve would decrease his minutes and productivity, yet playing alongside his new cast of teammates could simplify his role (run the floor and rebound) and make him a much better player.
5. He will ask for the type of money previously given to Derrick Favors (four years, $49 million) and Larry Sanders (four years, $44 million). What will hurt Thompson’s case, however, is the Greg Monroe saga. Monroe, by all accounts a better player than Thompson, was forced to sign a one-year qualifying offer with the Pistons after failing to reach agreement on a long-term contract with anyone this summer. He will now be an unrestricted free agent next summer.
6. Monroe was a restricted free agent this year and free to negotiate with anyone, yet even in a summer when teams were spending like drunken sailors on shore leave, Monroe couldn’t find a deal, likely because of the assumption the Pistons would’ve just matched it anyway. Thompson could very well face a similar position next summer.
7. A big extension for Thompson, coupled with Kyrie Irving’s max contract, would’ve crippled the Cavs’ salary cap prior to the return of LeBron James and acquisition of Kevin Love. Now assuming both of those guys remain with the Cavs long term, this team’s payroll will explode high into the luxury tax stratosphere, meaning the Cavs won’t have cap space with or without a Thompson extension. It’s not so much a concern against the cap now as it is how much luxury tax is Dan Gilbert willing to pay. And if history is any indication, the league has yet to find a figure he won’t pay if it means winning.
8. Still, it’s very possible the Cavs and Thompson don’t come to terms on an extension this season and he plays out the final year on his rookie deal, then enters restricted free agency next summer. Given his ties to LeBron, however, it’s difficult to envision a deal not getting done eventually.
9. Ray Allen’s camp still isn’t tipping its hand, but the Cavs are hopeful (optimistic?) he’ll join them at some point this season. Allen still has to decide first if he wants to continue playing, then he must choose a team.
10. The Cavs anticipate starting camp without Allen, which is why they’ve already signed their allotted 20 players for training camp. They only hope to get some clarity from Allen by the end of training camp so they don’t wind up releasing a player who could ultimately help them if he chooses not to come.
11. “Until Ray decides what he wants to do, I know this remains an option,” said James Jones, who was Allen’s teammate in Miami. The two remain friends. “I’m hopeful he’ll join us.”
12. I don’t want to spend this season making constant comparisons between the Cavs and the Heat superpower teams (some will be inevitable), but Lou Amundson might be the Cavs’ poor man version of Chris “Birdman” Andersen – a tough, physical defender and rebounder who was picked off the clearance rack. Both guys are limited offensively, but both bring a lot of energy and tenacity to the court.
13. I would be surprised if Amundson is not on this team in November. David Griffin spent time with him in Phoenix and loves his hustle. Amundson has bounced around the league a lot, but the Cavs believe that’s because of his offensive limitations. It’s difficult to play him in certain rotations because he can’t really score.
14. The Cavs don’t need him to score. They just need him to defend and rebound. At 6-foot-9, Amundson is also undersized at center. But barring a trade, the Cavs will be undersized in the middle with just about anyone they have right now.
15. They like Timofey Mozgov, but the Nuggets have shown no inclination to deal him. There doesn’t appear to be a trade available for any sort of rim protector right now, so the Cavs may look to bundle the trio of players they received from Utah (John Lucas III, Erik Murphy and Malcolm Thomas) in exchange for a trade exception to be used later.
16. The Cavs felt they needed to move Carrick Felix because his contract was guaranteed and they needed the cap space to sign LeBron and all his friends. That prompted the trade with the Jazz for the three non-guaranteed contracts. Now they can flip those contracts to a team looking to create cap room and acquire a small trade exception for future use.
17. The NBA has poked around and asked some questions about the Luol Deng scouting report that was leaked recently, a league source with knowledge of the situation said. But it’s an overstatement to categorize the league’s involvement as an active investigation.
18. The league seems to be approaching this just as the Cavs are: The redacted report clearly seems to indicate it’s a former employee, so there isn’t much that can be done at this point.
19. One thing that seems clear from a number of people I’ve spoken with around the league: Many are upset with the way the Atlanta Hawks, from ownership to the front office, etc… have handled this whole debacle.
20. LeBron is wrapping a commercial shoot in Los Angeles, his final act of summer before reporting to training camp. It was on a movie set, incidentally, where Blatt and James really chatted for the first time this summer. Blatt was in New York with his family and called James, who eagerly invited his family to the set. The Blatts and James families spent time chatting and laughing together.
21. “We’re on the same page, on the same wavelength,” Blatt said. “I’m expecting things to go very smoothly.”
22. Tickets to the preseason games at Xavier and Ohio State are both sold out,according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. No surprise. This team will be playing in front of sellout crowds most of the season.
23. The Cavs are getting an early jump on training camp because of the upcoming Brazil trip. Media day is Friday and the first practice is Saturday. Talk to you then. It’s going to be a wild ride.