LeBron James is the most important part of the Cleveland Cavaliers organization. He’s not only their most important player but he’s also their defacto-general manager and has the owner Dan Gilbert doing whatever it takes to keep LeBron around.
James is locked in for next season with the Cavaliers but beyond that, it might not be a forgone conclusion that he will return. The Cavaliers superstar has made it known he will continue to take these short one plus one contracts to keep the Cavs on their toes and for them to get the proper talent in Cleveland to contend every year.
While a majority of the roster has been signed for next season, there’s two key pieces from last years team that have yet to sign deals. J.R. Smith and Tristan Thompson are both technically free agents. While Smith might be closer to re-signing with the Cavs, Thompson reportedly once agreed to a deal but now, he hasn’t even come close to a contract with the team.
Without Tristan Thompson, who is a member of LeBron James’ “La Familia” and Klutch Sports Management team, the pressure is on as training camp approaches. Thompson reportedly is looking for a 5-year max contract and that’s far from what the team has offered him. Rich Paul, agent for both James and Thompson, has said if Thompson is forced to sign the one-year qualifying offer, Tristan will walk next summer and that doesn’t appeal to LeBron James.
Following from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
LeBron on Tristan Thompson: "He's a huge piece for our team…we need to get him back."
— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) August 13, 2015
Thompson’s importance to the Cavaliers, especially during their playoff run through the finals, could not be measured. He was key to the Cavs in their pick and roll defense, huge on the offensive glass and he connected multiple times with his guards on alley-oops on the offensive glass.
He averaged a double-double through the last three series of the Cavs playoff run and he was important once Kevin Love went down with a shoulder injury. Beyond what he does on-court, the connection to LeBron James can’t be denied. James once said Thompson should be a member of the Cavs forever and he continuously talks highly of the young forward. There’s almost no way the Cavs can go forward without Thompson and expect LeBron to be happy about his situation.
