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Tristan Thompson has been the powerhouse rebounder of the Cavs for years now, but really showed that he can have an effect on the game when given the chance. In the postseason, the Cavs repeatedly got second and third opportunities to score due to the tenacity of one Tristan Thompson. Thompson and his agent, Rich Paul, now believe the forward is worth a 5-year deal worth around $94 million. After the Cavs offered Thompson a contract at a lower price, Paul reportedly sent out an ultimatum that TT would not be returning to Cleveland if he was to sign a qualifying offer instead of a long-term deal. Here are five reasons why Thompson would be a fool not to stay in Cleveland beyond this season.
5. Cavs Team Has So Many Weapons, Defense Don’t Pay Attention To Him
The Cavs are loaded with offensive weapons in LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Love, Timofey Mozgov, and others, that a lot of the time, defenses just pay no attention to him on the pick-and-roll or on the weak side rebounding where Thompson often skyrockets to throw down a thunderous dunk.
Click ‘Next’ to see the fourth reason why Tristan Thompson would be a fool to leave Cleveland.
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4. Cavs Have Great Shooters, Leaving The Paint For Him To Gobble Rebounds
This Cleveland squad is stacked with great shooters from top to bottom. Irving, Love, and J.R. Smith, who is expected to re-sign soon, can all shoot the lights out of the gym. This pressure they put on defenses often has them leaving Thompson to help rebound and score on the weak-side. That allows Thompson to repeatedly crash the boards and get second and third opportunities for his team.
Click ‘Next’ to see the third reason why Tristan Thompson would be a fool to leave Cleveland.
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3. Cavs Offer Best Chance To Win
The Cavs were missing not one, but two of their key All-Stars, and despite this, still made it to the NBA Finals and pulled to just two games away from a championship. A lot of betting books are already placing the Cavs as the odds-on favorite to win the 2016 NBA Championship if they can remain healthy, and that’s something that Tristan could be a part of every season.
Click ‘Next’ to see the second reason why Tristan Thompson would be a fool to leave Cleveland.
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2. Cavs Can Offer More Financially
Right now, no other team has the cap space to sign Thompson to a deal. Thompson can still be offered more financially by the Cavs than essentially everyone else. With the salary cap possibly jumping over $20 million with the NBA’s new TV deal, Thompson could be in line to make some money. But he’ll have to earn that money in a diminished role for the Cavs, who are expected to have Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving at full strength this year. It doesn’t seem like Thompson will be able to earn the type of money he was offered by the Cavs when the free agency summer of 2016.
Click ‘Next’ to see the number one reason why Tristan Thompson would be a fool to leave Cleveland.
The Plain Dealer
1. Where Will Thompson Find Another LeBron James?
This one is plain and simple. Where on earth is Tristan Thompson going to find another LeBron James? There is no other player who can match the size, strength and intelligence that Lebron James has, and him being mentored for Thompson is a huge step in his career.
Thompson’s mom love LeBron James and loves even more the fact that her son has a chance to play with the world’s greatest at the highest level of basketball.
“I’m so glad he’s playing with LeBron,” Andrea Brooks, Thompson’s mother, said. “He only can learn. He can learn to be better because he’s playing with the best. He can take that blessing and turn it to be good in his life.”
RELATED: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Tristan Thompson
Would Thompson really leave all these great opportunities he has in Cleveland for a chance at more money next offseason? We doubt it, but you never know.