Tristan Thompson and the Cavaliers were reportedly close to a contract extension.
Then, they were reportedly apart in negotiations.
What now?
Cleveland general manager David Griffin, via Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon Journal:
Thompson still holds the major leverage he did before – sharing an agent, Rich Paul, with LeBron James. LeBron re-signing doesn’t change the Cavaliers’ willingness and need to appease him.
Remember, LeBron can become a free agent again next summer. But, really, even that doesn’t matter. The Cavaliers would still kowtow to LeBron if he were on a 50-year contract, because that’s how this work.
Thompson and Paul surely know that, which is why they’ll wait until Cleveland comes correct with a max or near-max offer.