Toronto Raptors: Tristan Thompson A Target In 2016?

By Joshua Howe | Aug 28, 2015

Jun 11, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) grabs a rebound during the first quarter against the Golden State Warriors in game four of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

The Toronto Raptors seem to be indirectly involved with the contract talks between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson. Thompson has yet to get a deal done with the club he went to the Finals with last season, and it’s due to him and his agent, Rich Paul, wanting a larger contract from the Cavs.

If Thompson can’t get the deal he and Paul want, he’s expected to sign only a one-year qualifying offer with Cleveland and then enter the free agency bonanza that will occur next summer when Kevin Durant becomes a free agent.

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Rumor has it that Paul could be trying to get Thompson back to his hometown where he could play for the Raptors. Paul has already had a couple homecoming success stories, those being with LeBron James and Cory Joseph, the latter of which just signed with Toronto this summer.

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Joseph and Thompson are also friends who played AAU, high school and college basketball together. Combine that with the fact that Thompson has mentioned how every Canadian wants to play for the Raptors growing up, and it seems that Toronto is a very possible future destination for the big man.

Now the next question: does Toronto want to pay the high price tag for him?

Thompson and Paul are clearly going to want a max deal. Heck, they want one now. There will be plenty of money to throw around next summer across the league, but the Raptors will still want to be careful and spend it in the best ways possible.

General manager Masai Ujiri is a calculating man, and this season’s results will certainly play a huge role in the moves made next offseason. Toronto will be one of the teams making a big push for Durant, since they have the tiniest bit of leverage with Vince Carter being KD’s favorite player growing up and thusly, his childhood dream of becoming a Raptor.

But if they are unable to catch the big fish, they’ll still want to reel in something. Thompson could be that something and he’s not a bad consolation prize. At this point in his career, TT hasn’t proved he’s worth max money. But he’ll most certainly demand it and if not Toronto, then some other team will give him what he wants.

It sounds like a great idea – a hometown kid coming back and playing with his friend who just happens to be another hometown kid in their attempt to win it all for their city. Not only that, but Thompson is a grit and grind player who loves getting on the boards and doing the dirty work. Toronto wouldn’t mind bulking up at the power forward spot either.

And yet it’s clear that Thompson isn’t a franchise player. He’s a key cog on a great team, for sure, but he’s not someone to build a club around. Offering him a similar amount of money to what someone might offer KD seems ludicrous.

We’re looking at a situation that has a million ways to play out. A single season could change everything, or keep everything exactly as it’s on course to go currently. All we can know for certain is this: Thompson has all of the leverage, and the Raptors will have to be smart when (potentially) looking at him next summer.

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