Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 players not likely to return in 2020-21

2. Tristan Thompson

Thompson has never played for another team in his NBA career. Next season seems like the time that will finally change for the big man.

The fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, Thompson has endeared himself to Cavs Nation despite never making an All-Star team. He has become a double-double machine in recent years, racking up 25 this season alone so far. This season, Thompson is averaging 12.0 points and 10.1 rebounds per game; the former is a career-high, while the latter is just a tenth of a point from matching last year’s career-high.

It may seem odd to dismiss a player who is sporting career-best numbers, but the writing is on the wall for Thompson in Cleveland. He recently turned 29 years old – even if he continues at his current level for another few seasons, he’s not going to make a leap into the next tier of stardom. Salary negotiations are also going to be an issue.

Thompson hit the lottery with his last contract, signing a five-year, $82 million pact with the Cavs before the 2015-16 season. He might be expecting an even higher average salary based on his recent play (with less years attached), a tough ask in an environment where the salary cap may be dropping significantly due to lost revenue from the season. With Thompson entering the market as an unrestricted free agent after the season, this seems like the perfect timing for an amicable split.