Tristan Thompson

[TitleTown]

Committed $16.4 million to him this year, $17.5 million next year, $18.5 million the year after that

Untradable contract.

He's young and when healthy he's a good defender and a fantastic rebounder. He definitely has value on the trade market.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

Not a huge fan of the guy, but he is an energy player just coming back from a pretty long layoff. We really won't know much for a couple of weeks at least.

 

[TitleTown]

Not a huge fan of the guy, but he is an energy player just coming back from a pretty long layoff. We really won't know much for a couple of weeks at least.

Agreed. I really don't care for Tristan after his no-show in the finals last year, but he still could contribute to this team or be a great addition to a trade package.

 

[Nphan]

Cavs could get off of Tristan's money tomorrow if they wanted to. There are at least 3-5 teams that would trade for him with the intent of playing him regularly,

Not gonna get a haul for him but if the Cavs wanted to trade TT to get off his money for 3 years(they dont want to), they could.

What kinds of players are we talking about though?

 

[cavsfever]

well, I honestly hope you guys are right, but I'll believe it when I see it. $17 million a year does not strike me as the going price for rebounding role players who are good but not great defenders and don't do much else. Robert Covington just signed for less and although he's not a rebounding specialist he is probably one of the best 3&D role players in the league.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

well, I honestly hope you guys are right, but I'll believe it when I see it. $17 million a year does not strike me as the going price for rebounding role players who are good but not great defenders and don't do much else. Robert Covington just signed for less and although he's not a rebounding specialist he is probably one of the best true 3&D role players in the league.

Covington would have gotten well over 20 million if he was a FA the year Tristan was. Just the way the salary cap worked out.

TT is certainly overpaid by a couple million bucks mainly due to the year he was a free agent but it doesn't mean he's un-tradeable.

But the Cavs arent trying to trade him. The Cavs still have no bigs besides him Love and Frye and Ante is a rookie. The Cavs would need to get a big guy in return to move TT, IMO.

 

[cavsfever]

Covington would have gotten well over 20 million if he was a FA the year Tristan was. Just the way the salary cap worked out.

TT is certainly overpaid by a couple million bucks mainly due to the year he was a free agent but it doesn't mean he's un-tradeable.

But the Cavs arent trying to trade him. The Cavs still have no bigs besides him Love and Frye and Ante is a rookie. The Cavs would need to get a big guy in return to move TT, IMO.

But Tristan wasn't a UFA, he held out to get the contract, and he never to my knowledge got a restricted offer that was at all comparable with what we gave him. That was kind of the whole issue that year.

Anyway, TT's value to us (which I agree is positive, though exactly how positive I'm not sure) is a very different question than his value to other teams. What teams A) need a PF / small ball center badly enough to pay him starter's money, B) have enough scorers already that they are satisfied with a non-scorer with no shooting range like TT in that slot, and C) are willing to tie up $50 million over this year and the next two years in a player headed toward his late 20s who has reached his ceiling? It won't be a rebuilding team, and I'm having a hard time thinking of a playoff team that describes. It does kind of describe the Cavs I guess, but how many other teams?

But that's off the top of my head, not like I've thought through all the teams out there. Like I said, I hope you guys are right and there's a market for him.

 

[2016_was_awesome]

Can we trade this dude now? No effort. Can’t box out PG’s. Not now, not in the finals.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

 

[Stark]

 

[Pioneer10]

Goddamn this guy frustrates the hell out of me. Only thing he's good for on offense is working the glass but then he can't make his damn FT's when he gets hacked down there.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

There is clearly a real use/need for him defensively. His ability to switch was one of the biggest reasons that we were able to make such a big comeback against the Bucks. It's an important skill that becomes even more important in the playoffs.

I don't think the answer is to replace Frye with TT on the 2nd unit. The unit definitely doesnt feel right offensively and they're not a defensive unit so you're not helping their strengths which is the problem with TT being in it.

I really think he should start with Bron, Love, IT and JR. Then he can play spot minutes in different "athlete" lineups with Bron or Wade in. Crowder is so versatile you can still get him his minutes throughout the rest of the game. Crowder and Green together usually produces well it seems.

 

[TitleTown]

There is clearly a real use/need for him defensively. His ability to switch was one of the biggest reasons that we were able to make such a big comeback against the Bucks. It's an important skill that becomes even more important in the playoffs.

I don't think the answer is to replace Frye with TT on the 2nd unit. The unit definitely doesnt feel right offensively and they're not a defensive unit so you're not helping their strengths which is the problem with TT being in it.

I really think he should start with Bron, Love, IT and JR. Then he can play spot minutes in different "athlete" lineups with Bron or Wade in.

No, there is not CLEARLY a need. Especially after his performance in the finals.

But, I'm fine with him having 1 more chance to prove himself.

That said, replacing Frye, who has played well all year, was stupid.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

No, there is not CLEARLY a need. Especially after his performance in the finals.

You point to 1 bad series. I can point to 10 good ones. Including against GS.

But, I'm fine with him having 1 more chance to prove himself.

That said, replacing Frye, who has played well all year, was stupid.

The Cavs don't have a clear need for a good/plus defender at the 5? The need for an athletic big with the ability to switch to perimeter guys and stay with them?

He's not ever gonna be the DPOTY. But tristan at his best is a plus defender, elite offensive rebounder, and legitimate lob threat. Its a clearly defined important role that nobody else on the current roster can fill. So we have to figure it out somehow. We have to be versatile. What's the point of all the talent and depth if we don't make a point to figure out and deploy all of it based on need?

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

There is clearly a real use/need for him defensively. His ability to switch was one of the biggest reasons that we were able to make such a big comeback against the Bucks. It's an important skill that becomes even more important in the playoffs.

I don't think the answer is to replace Frye with TT on the 2nd unit. The unit definitely doesnt feel right offensively and they're not a defensive unit so you're not helping their strengths which is the problem with TT being in it.

I really think he should start with Bron, Love, IT and JR. Then he can play spot minutes in different "athlete" lineups with Bron or Wade in. Crowder is so versatile you can still get him his minutes throughout the rest of the game. Crowder and Green together usually produces well it seems.

Ofcourse we have a use for him.. we desperately need a Center, too bad that TT isn't a very good one. This team would look ridiculously good with a dominant defensive Center... best in the league probably, atleast in the RS.

A defensive center will fix our variance problem because we will no longer live and die by the opponenets 3pt% wide open percentage that day.

We would blow teams out early and when we do they would feel deflated and give up bcause they would get crappy looks, unlike now that they know they just have to knock down their open shots to cut the lead.