NBA Trade Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Eye Miami Heat, New York Knicks NBA Stars as LeBron James Backup; Tristan Thompson got 'Significantly less' Salary Offer

By Mitch de Leon
Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love, Lebron James, Kyrie Irving
Cleveland Cavaliers Kevin Love, Lebron James, Kyrie Irving

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been busy building a roster of worthy players that could serve as the support system of LeBron James this upcoming NBA season. While the NBA Finals first runner-ups now have Kevin Love and LeBron James in the bag for next season, one other star's future with the Cleveland Cavaliers remains unknown: Tristan Thompson.

The previous NBA season saw the rise of the Canadian player who took off where Kevin Love left following the injury incurred by the latter during a game against the Boston Celtics. Thrusted in the center of the action, Thompson performed his part beautifully and gained the respect of not only the entire Cleveland Cavaliers team but also, and more crucially, the admiration of LeBron James himself. As the NBA season progressed, fans and followers of the Cleveland Cavaliers began to depend more on Thompson's abilities - with LeBron James constantly seeking the assistance of the Canadian player. With this in mind, it only seemed logical that Thompson raises the bar in terms of his salary and contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers - a matter that now has the NBA team and the free agent at a stalemate.  

The standoff, which now reached a month of no progress, sees two sides that appear unrelenting. Thompson reportedly demands a deal nearing the max contract, which is a five-year agreement amounting to approximately $94 million. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers are currently offering an amount described as "significantly less," according to the source of ESPN. Another option under consideration by both the NBA team and Thompson is an agreement involving a one-year qualifying offer worth $6.8 million. By accepting this offer, the NBA star can go on as an unrestricted free agent by next summer. At the moment, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Thompson have yet to reach an agreement regarding the matter.

Meanwhile, Sports World Report revealed that the Cleveland Cavaliers are now in the lookout for potential substitute players for LeBron James. In an effort to reinforce the height advantage brought in the court by Timofey Mozgov, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly eyeing the addition of Sasha Kaun in the NBA team. With the 7-foot giant alongside LeBron James, further intimidation could be added to the strengths of the Cleveland Cavaliers this upcoming NBA season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are also reported to be finding ways to add depth to its NBA roster. Some of the names that popped up when contemplating potential support players for LeBron James include Tayshaun Prince from the Detroit Pistons. Sources close to the matter revealed that the Cleveland Cavaliers "reached out" NBA free agent but to no avail. As of this writing, Prince and the Cleveland Cavaliers are yet to make a statement on the reported deal.

Another potential NBA star who could help LeBron James bring home the NBA championship trophy to the Cleveland Cavaliers locker room is Dorell Wright from the Portland Trail Blazers. Rasual Butler of the Washington Wizards and Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat are considered as viable options as well. Apart from these free agents, the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly still eyeing a potential deal with New York Knicks star JR Smith. Should that deal fail to come into fruition, Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers might be the next target of the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

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