Cleveland Cavaliers Rumors: Tristan Thompson Demanding Max Contract, Won’t Take Less

Restricted free agent Tristan Thompson still has not signed a new contract yet because he wants a max deal, a league source, cited by Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report, claimed

Bucher reported:

"A league source tells me that his agent, Rich Paul, has already made it clear to the Cleveland Cavaliers that Thompson will not sign a long-term deal unless it is a max deal. And otherwise, he is prepared to sign a one-year qualifying offer with the additional knowledge, according to the source, that Paul believes that he can get a max deal with the Raptors next summer."

A max contract would be worth $94,343,125. If the Cavaliers do not offer that amount, Thompson's agent, Paul, is ready to start working on his plan to get Thompson back home to Canada. Bucher reported that by next year, the Raptors will be willing to offer the Canadian a max deal.

If the Cavaliers do not cave to Thompson's demands, he would be expected to sign the one-year qualifying offer for $6.8 million and become an unrestricted free agent in 2016. The Cavaliers, however, could try to find a creative way to keep Thompson in Cleveland, especially since LeBron James has been vocal about keeping Thompson.

Thompson reportedly turned down a five-year, $80 million offer. He averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in the regular season. Thompson stepped up his game when the Cavaliers lost Kevin Love to an injury in the postseason. In 20 playoff games, Thompson averaged 9.6 points and 10.8 rebounds.