Tristan Thompson, Still Treading
2015-10-02
As of 1:00 a.m. on Friday, October 2nd, Tristan Thompson has yet to sign a deal with the Cavaliers. Thompson could have agreed to a qualifying offer worth $6.8 million over the following season, but he chose not to do so before the deadline. Right now, Tristan is in contract limbo. He is sitting in the middle of the ocean treading water, waiting for a life preserving contract to be tossed his way. He can negotiate for a long term deal, and if he doesn’t receive an offer he likes from the Cavs or another team, he can just wait. If no offer comes his way though, his value will quickly drop.
Tristan is now officially holding out. The Cavs have offered him $80 million over five years, but his agent, Rich Paul is looking for more money. Paul has proposed a $94 million contract for five years, and when that was denied, he tried to get TT a contract worth $53 million over three years. March 1st would be the last day for him to sign an offer sheet of any kind this season. If the saga dragged on that long, and if he sat out all season, the Cavs would have the chance to issue another qualifying offer to renew his restricted free agency next July.
The Cavs are no stranger to players holding out. Back in 2007, another energetic center, Anderson Varejao, held out on signing a deal until early December, after the Cavs matched an $11.1 million offer sheet Andy had signed with the Charlotte Bobcats. That same season, Sasha Pavlovic also held out for almost a month to start the season. Hopefully, TT’s hold out won’t drag out as long as those did, and the two sides can figure out a contract to let every one go home smiling.
Tristan is ONLY going to be this good (relatively speaking) of a player on the Cavs. The Cavs should have held firm on their 13$ million/season offer from last offseason. He has to do nothing on this team except provide energy off the bench, grab 10 rebounds a game and play some pnr defense. Maybe score a handful of buckets too. I’m simplifying it a bit but thats the extent of his job. He actually “threatens” to leave next season as an unrestricted free agent, he’ll get nowhere close to this 5/80 deal and definitely not a max deal from… Read more »
Cleveland can win a championship without TT.
If he doesn’t want to sign, move along.
LeBron, Kyrie, Love, Shump, Moz, AV, JR, etc. is more than enough to win it all. The only reason TT became the focal point of value is because Love and Kyrie went down last year. If they were healthy (if only one of them was, even) we’d have beaten the Warriors in 5 games.
It’s sad how this was the only card that Rich Paul had, to get Lebron to make these comments for him. He himself can not do anything at this point. He has nothing in leverage and no card to play. He needs Lebron to push further for him.
What an agent. Utterly unremarkable.
He does seem to take the same route with most of his clients – super high demand from the start and never waver. He’s like the Scott Boras of the NBA, except not very successful at getting his demands met.
Lebron loves drama. He loves it.
uM? wHAT?
LeBron is awesome.
He can thank his greedy agent for that.
What if Rich Paul was telling TT to sign and TT just doesn’t wan to?
It’s not the agent’s fault, it’s the players fault.
And you know what? He’ll sign eventually, i don’t see the worry here. It’s not like he’s going to sign elsewhere.
He can thank his greedy agent for that.
Who needs football?
Since Lebron has gone Instagram on TT, it may be only a matter of a couple of days before he goes full thermonuclear with a “are you fitting in or fitting out?” twert.
Is LeBrons message more directed toward the Cavs or TT?
At this point the Cavs have no reason to moved from their 5-year, $80 million offer. If Thompson don’t sign he’s restricted next year too.
PS I’m still on the side the Cardale Jones will be a crumby pro.
So it’s not “Fail for Cardale,” it’s “Fail with Cardale.”
@Rachel__Nichols: LeBron James weighs in on the contract split between the #Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson. http://t.co/0ejFVqJWe3
So then tell your boy to stop acting like a spoiled self-entitled prick.
I would actually love to see what Kaun and Varejao can do in TT’s place. I think a lot of people would, including me, could be very surprised.
LIKE I SAID JUST GIVE THE BALL TO ELLIOT !!!
JUST HAND THE BALL TO EZEKIEL THE REST OF THE GAME !!
THANKS ARCH WITH THE BUCKEYES ” ON UPSET ALERT ” I NEEDED SOME COMIC RELIEF
We need to get Cardale outta there. One good TD pass to a wide open receiver doesn’t excuse his play. Luckily we’ve gained some breathing room now.
@FearTheSword: Watch @BdotAdot5 impersonate J.R. Smith http://t.co/CLSVfLtprG http://t.co/VP8JBFEC8P
Hilarious!! I had to watch it several times!! The shoelace and then the big dunk against the Knicks…perfect JR! Thanks for finding this.
Kaun’s last name is pronounced Kown.
Glad that Paul/TT are looking like the bad guys with their greed play and Grif is looking like he’s made the right call on what to offer TT. Another good decision by Grif. He’s building up a very good reputation as a GM.
Great point on the light that Griffin is percieved in. And yes, he is an absolutely tremendous GM.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but TT cannot become a unrestricted free agent this year or next summer, unless the Cavs release or trade him. If he holds out all year his market value will plummet, along with a serious dent in Paul’s reputation. TT and Paul have cornered themselves rather foolishly.
The Cavs literally have to do nothing but wait for him to sign the offer.
I’m actually excited to see what Jefferson and Kaun can do in the early weeks of the season. It will give time for LBJ to rest and ease Love back into the game. I hope depth is their greatest strength all season.
Good article from Pluto today with details on how things have been going in training camp…
http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/index.ssf/2015/10/clevaland_cavaliers_have_terry.html
Loving the news about Quinn Cook!!! Let’s go Duke!
This was a good read. Glad Kaun looks to be another mean Russian setting nasty screens. I like screens.
Today’s New York Post story –
“How a perfectly average player is holding the Cavaliers hostage”
Just goes to show you how those around the country view TT’s talents. I think Cavs fans think a lot more of TT, but in the real world he’s – Perfectly average.
http://nypost.com/2015/10/02/how-a-perfectly-average-player-is-holding-the-cavaliers-hostage/
How is he holding the Cavs hostage? The whole situation is ironic because he’s come to hold himself hostage.
What does it take to drop your agent? And what are the ramifications? Best way for TT to save his “I will do all the dirty work” image.
I would get so much satisfaction if LeBron dumped RP. I know, I know. This won’t happen. But it would be OH so sweet. I really do not like Paul.
Rich Pauls only leverage right now would be if Love had a set back or got re-injured. Gilbert needs to hire some body guards and make sure RP doesn’t Tanya Harding Love.
I think all of Cavs nation is thinking that TT isn’t who we thought he was (or he was, but he’s changed.) The Haywood trade exception seems to have a little more value these days.
I guess I’My head is still spinning about this TT situation. I don’t understand how Paul thinks he can hold the Cavs hostage . . . that the Cavs can’t win a championship without Thompson. The Cavs were up 2-1 in the Finals last year WITHOUT Kyrie and Love. TT is Love’s BACK UP who comes into games to play defense and grab a few rebounds. The Haywood trade exception won’t enable us to go out and get that? Furthermore, if TT signs – that guarantees a championship? You sign TT for $94MM you won’t be able to sign a… Read more »
I’m all in favor of Cavs holding firm… but I hope they’re not going “scorched earth” just yet…
http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-cavaliers/post/_/id/1152/tristan-thompson-now-a-virtual-outsider-for-cavs
Whats scorched earth? If he’s not at practice Sunday I think I reduce it 5/72.5 It still pays him 14.5 annually and is ludicris for TT. But it makes him a much more movable asset in the future and makes it easier to resign Mozgov who will make more than TT.
I just meant the removal of TT images from elevator and them no longer selling his jersey on the team website… Just petty stuff like that…
I wonder if there’s a contractual or union reason they need to do that instead of pettiness. Like they dont have the rights to his image if hes not under contract
I don’t think its petty. If TT doesn’t want to sign a contract he doesn’t deserve royalties from his jerseys being sold.
In that interview, they say if TT holds out ALL season he’d be an “unrestricted FA” is this a mistake by him? I thought we determined that if he sits out, his Restricted Free Agent status extends to next year.
Yes, I think he got that part wrong. By all other accounts, if he sits out all year, he would still be a RFA next summer and the whole thing gets repeated…
Sure doesn’t sound like LBJ is planning to take another two week sabbatical…
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/10/lebron_james_cleveland_cavalie_59.html#incart_river
I don’t care if he does or not. He should do what is necessary to be full go in the playoffs.
SO IN ESSENCE T.T. IS TELLING LEBRON YOU CAN’T WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP WITHOUT ME —-I AM SURE THAT SITS REAL WILL WITH THE KING —–HE IS RAPIDLY ” BURNING HIS CLOSE BRIDGES ” —-CAREFUL T.T. THE WATER IS DEEP AND COLD HERE IN LAKE ERIE
“The water is deep and cold here in Lake Erie… And therein lies a Monster!” (had my first great lakes Lake Erie Monster, felt it appropriate)
PAUL IS GAMBLING ( BY T.THOLDING OUT ) THAT THEY WILL NOSEDIVE/ NOT COMPETE FOR A CHAMPIONSHIP—-DID HE EVER CONSIDER THAT 1 OF THESE OTHER PLAYERS ( OR SOMEONE ELSE EVENTUALLY PICKED UP ) BY PLAYING WITH LEBRON AND OTHER ELITE PLAYERS MIGHT POSSIBLY PERFORM A WHOLE LOT BETTER THAN THEIR PREVIOUS STINTS ( AND QUITE POSSIBLY PLAY CLOSE OR BETTER THAN T.T.’S STANDARDS )—-T.T. YOU BETTER BE SMART HERE —YOU COULD BE GAMBLING YOURSELF OUT OF A REAL POSITIVE/ ONCE IN A LIFETIME FUTURE HERE—-WOULD NOT WANT TO ” PARTNER ” UP WITH PAUL IN VEGAS—-WOULD END UP LOSING… Read more »
So, basically he’s worth the QO. There’s more to it, though. He has value to the Cavs that’s significantly above market for the same reason Draymond Green had value to the Warriors that was significantly above his true market value. Considerations like fan goodwill, system fit, and continuity all make him worth more to the team he’s already successful on than a potential suitor.
Even to the Cavs, i don’t see him being worth more than 11 million/year.
TT’s camp is rapidly losing that “fan goodwill”
Another excellent find, EG. You’re on fire HAHA!
@believeLAND I agree… 12m/yr is the max for me.
@jdreyfuss I agree… it would’ve been a win for the Cavs to get TT to sign that QO. But I would disagree with your Draymond Green analogy. Draymond Green is GSW’s 2nd best playmaker. He can pass well, hit 3s, and defend/rebound as well as TT for the most part. In my opinion, he received a fair market deal… by no means an overpay. He’s not worth max money, and he wasn’t paid max money.
Yeah… even if that assertion by the TT camp was true, $80M over 5 years is already a pretty hefty price…
If this is true, it lowers my opinion of TT/RP more than any other spin to come out of this saga. If true, it almost makes me want the Cavs to say, “oh RLY” and subsequently go on to win a championship without him.
I feel like they could win a championship without him. He’s a huge part of the puzzle, but not an irreplaceable one.
TT gained a bunch of cred during the playoffs because he got more minutes and he performed nicely. But, he’s a backup with two skills.
He can leave now and not let the door hit him in the ass. He’s got a great heart on the court, but now he’s just acting like a diva.
So that means the Cavs should pay him a max contract? His camp may have miscalculated.
If he goes the distance in the hold out, his value goes down so badly all around the league. This is a “What have you done for me lately” NBA culture. Each month that passes he’s not playing so does his value. Don’t be surprised Cavs lower their price like they did with JR. It happened to Andy as well
Its like they forget we have the BHTE. Could we get someone QUITE as good as TT on the boards or switching? Probably not, but we might be able to get close. And the reason we didn’t win the championship has largely been addressed in our depth and lack of another playmaker behind LBJ and KI. If this is true, good riddance. And I liked TT so much before this off-season.
Sign him up, Coach!
Good article on the whole situation from Zach Lowe…
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/tristan-thompson-continues-his-poker-game-with-cleveland/
Just read it. From everything I’ve read–both from Zach and other sources–pretty much every member of the media believes TT overplayed his hand. I wonder how much of that public perception will force TT to accept the originally proposed deal of 5/80 for fear of losing future contract value because the team that wanted him most didn’t think he was worth a cent more than that and refused to budge for months. I hope when TT signs that deal, David Griffen tells Rich Paul not to bluff at him again. EG, you were right when you said earlier that Rich… Read more »
It’s an interesting, balanced look at both sides of the issue. It comes down pretty heavily against TT’s decision, which is certainly justified, but it doesn’t really criticize either side for being greedy or shortsighted. I think that’s the right way to look at it, even if I think TT’s belief in his market value is unreasonable. I also didn’t realize there was yet another tax bracket above the stratosphere they currently find themselves in. That changes my reasoning above, since I didn’t realize there were greater tax implications to front loading the contract beyond simply the triple tax they… Read more »
Very good piece. Reiterates what commenters on this blog have been saying for months, TT is crazy to turn down 5yr/80mil.
He should have taken it the first day he could, like Love and Shump did. He lost the pre training camp time in Miami, and now he’s losing real training camp time. Paul needs to admit defeat and get him into camp before it gets worse. Paul made a good move by advising TT to turn down 52/4years. He should be happy with that win and move on before this gets worse for TT. Kaun and Varejao are both looking good in camp by all accounts. TT can’t really work out hard right now because he might get injured. So… Read more »
Let him go play for the Blazers or something, the last thing we need is greedy overvalued players.
We already have one greedy overvalued player. His name is Andy.
Yeah… that $11.1M (with a player option year for $6.2M) really was overboard… and actually the deal he wound up signing was way less than he was asking for… The Cavs only offered him a Q.O. of $1.2M, and not anything comparable in 2007 dollars to the 5/$80M they offered TT…
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nba&id=3142483
Once again your facts and data actually support your perspective and opinions. Thanks.
On separate note I wish Delly argued for more $. Defense and hustle and energy is worth a lot these day.
I think the rest of the league really, really undervalues Delly. Unlike TT, Delly sees that even if he feels he’s worth more, it doesn’t benefit him to ask for more than what other teams are offering him. I don’t think anyone offered him much of anything so he went with however much he could feel like he could justify asking the Cavs for. Delly, I like. TT, dropped some major spots on my depth chart of favorites.
I agree and please note that I am glad Delly did what he did. That had a little trolling agenda, sorry. So fired up for the games to begin so we can focus on that.
Haha fair enough. Ya I think we are all starting to get a little stir crazy. I tell you what, I’m pretty thankful to have ANY meaningful basketball news whatsoever. End of July, August, beginning of September are rough months for me haha. Let the basketball begin!
There’s also the problem that his leverage was significantly less because he would be an RFA next year even if he accepted QO.
He also didn’t have the initial leverage of also being repped by RP and Klutch, and the perception that LBJ would wait to sign until after his deal got done…
I think Delly got the “we’ll take care of you next year” message. Also, I got the feeling he REALLY wanted to play for Australia this summer, and that wasn’t happening if his contract wasn’t still up in the air.
TT after reading his Twitter feed this morning…
Or…
Or, they put a couple of reasonable offers on the table, one for more years/money, for the sake of argument let’s say $83m/5y and one for $42m/3y with a player option on the last year so TT can enter FA when there will be more cap room (so Cavs could resign him without as much of a luxury tax hit or another team could bid him up and all sides will have more data) or a longer deal, with a higher tax hit now, but likely savings/value on the back end. The Cavs and RP basically say, we’re okay with… Read more »
This is probably about right.
Why would the Cavs negotiate against themselves? Especially now that RP has shown his bluff about the QO to be exactly what it was… a bluff that got called…
They wouldn’t, this scenario assumed RP got a commitment from them before he agreed not to sign the QO, and trusts that the Cavs won’t pull those things out even once that deadline passed. Yes, it requires some trust on his part, and the Cavs to act in good faith, but that seems reasonable to me…
That’s fair, but I’m not buying that scenario. RP made his bluff about the Q.O., the Cavs didn’t flinch and forced RP’s hand. He should take the 5/80 and consider himself and his client lucky…
Reasonable take HC… it makes a lot of sense.
I actually think that TT not signing the QO enhances the argument that TT/RP have something in the works. If they were truly insulted by the numbers, they would’ve signed the QO.
And in what universe is 5/$80M for TT not a “reasonable offer?”
Just look at the Henson deal today for reference…
Rich Paul overplayed his hand.
The options are
TT for a lot of money
Someone really crappy for not alot of money
They will sign TT for a lot of money.
Actually, the options are:
TT can sign for way more money than he’s worth and get back to working on trying to win championships with the Cavs.
or
TT can sit out and pout and other guys can just pick up the slack
Haha. OK Sure.
My basic point is it doesn’t matter that we think TTs value is about Henson level. He knows the Cavs know that they can’t sign anyone else except for him Which is how we get to 5/80. Which he should definitely sign.
We also have a problem here of talking about “market value” as if the market is one that we can model like it’s economics 101 or hell, even the stock market, this market is far, far more highly regulated and constrained, the factors that influence the actors are far different than in a “normal” market where you can spend money however you want to, here, money can only be spent in certain ways by certain people at certain times because of the CBA, so similar assets in terms of on-court production can have widely varying monetary values based on their… Read more »
And on the flip side of that… what other career can you make $80M over 5 years as a 24 year old, other than the stock market or the tech market?
He should take the deal. I doubt they improve it.
And @ Cols, you’re right… it doesn’t matter that we think TTs value is about Henson level. It matters what the Cavs believe he’s worth, which is not more than their overly generous offer of 5/80.
And, they could certainly still trade the Haywood exception for someone with a similar skill set to TT…
This is a bad look for RP. Not sure how he saves face here. Even if he winds up accepting the 5/$80M, this was reportedly the same deal that was on the table since July. So all he’s done is create months of non-basketball inactivity for his client, including missing at least three days (probably more) of training camp, toss out idle threats, potentially created animosity, allowed the situation to become a distraction to a team trying to win a championship, and caused many in a fanbase that loves and supports TT to sour on him a bit. A ridiculous… Read more »
I agree. It’s interesting that Paul has had the “Lebron connection” in his favor, yet Lebron has stayed clear of the TT negotiations. The potential harm to the team that Paul has done here, as EG, described, can’t make Lebron feel good about Paul.
LeBron’s a loyal guy, but you gotta believe the King is seeing that he gave Paul too much slack. At some point, you can cross even your buddy’s line.
Again, I’m not convinced 5/80 was ever on the table. Its too much and has always been too much (see Henson deal)
Don’t you think if that were true, that Rich Paul would have stated as much? He’s had no issue throwing out numbers on his side. If the Cavs had actually not offered that deal, it would be absolutely in RP and TT’s interest to make it known…
Yeah, I’m a bit suspicious of the 5 at 80 myself, but if it was much lower than that, I’m pretty sure it would have been leaked by RP long before now.
I can see that possibility TOJ.
I also can see your point, EG.
Perhaps there’s a small chance 5/80 was leaked by RP and TT. Who knows?
Sigh.
We can’t sign Henson. We can only sign one guy. His name is Thompson.
Sigh. Are you like best friends with Rich Paul? How is it so difficult for you to see the logic in what this says about TT’s actual value?
I don’t care about value. 5/$80. Sign it and everyone is happy.
Oh it’s pretty clear you don’t care about value. Do you like having Moz on the team too? Cause he won’t be cheap next summer either.
If anything, I would think you’d be impressed with Griff and Gilbert since they called Rich Paul’s bluff of taking the qualifying offer.
The fact is that TT can’t get a better than 4/$64M deal ANYWHERE else now, and even if he sits out for the year, he’ll still be an RFA and the Cavs can match any offer he receives next summer…
I’m really hoping moz harbors some real desires to stay here for the rest of his career (with David Blatt) and is willing to take a bit less money to do so. Pipe dreamz.
That is kind of what everyone has been saying. Take the original offer and quit asking for more.
If you don’t care about value, you should be in favor of Delly getting a 5 year / 80 mill deal. Everyone is happy!
Pigs will fly before he would agree to that. LoL
Another great find, EG. What I find amazing is that there’s plenty of comparisons to be made which reinforce the argument that TT is overvaluing himself.
My feel is that something is close. If it wasn’t, TT would have taken the QO. It makes no sense for TT to leave $6.8 mil on the table to sit out this year and go through the same thing next year, unless he’s that afraid of getting hurt. I’m betting we see a contract signed this weekend that lets Paul save some face (he’s getting pwned) and the Cavs keep TT long term.
That makes the most sense.
Yes. I agree, they are probably close. Hopefully it won’t become a Andy V. type of holdout that last until December. Not only does Andy get injured but he holds out too. Ugh on that guy.
You’re getting one of these from me for Christmas…
That’s a great Christmas gift!
I agree… great take Nate.
I wouldn’t offer TT the 3/53. That doesn’t work for us at all. The whole point is to get the long contract so we can back load it to help with our luxury tax. No reason to hamstring us with deals for the next three years if we are STILL paying a luxury tax on it.
Now here’s an example of a sane deal for a back up big who’s known for mostly rebounding and defense…
That can’t help TT’s value.
I wonder if they’ll hold it up as a rebuttal to the Kanter deal…
Another development that can’t help TT’s value…
http://espn.go.com/blog/cleveland-cavaliers/post/_/id/1146/anderson-varejao-stepping-lively-in-return
Andy? The guy who held out until December?
This is just a training camp story. There is no way an old center who is always injured and is now coming off one of the worst injries an old guy can get in basketball is going to be effective. He wasn’t effective last year when he was healthy for his normal 20 games or so.
Yeah… he held out in 2007 for like $11M
Keep hating on Andy. He’ll prove you wrong.
You must be a genuine curmudgeon if the prospect of Andy being healthy and playing well doesn’t do anything for you… It only helps the team you purport to love…
He actually signed with another team. He was ready to leave. In retrospect we should’ve let him.
He was just as much an integral piece to the 2007 Cavs team as TT is to the 2015 Cavs team… He was offered a bare minimum qualifying offer and no long term deal…
In 2007 Andy’s agent want 6yr/52 million. Cavs said No. They offered 5 year 32 million and had the 1.2 million qualifying offer which Andy declined. both .Ferry was a hard ass and didn’t budge. Sasha was also holding out and he caved. By early December ,Andy signed an offer sheet with Bobcats 17 million/3yr with opt out in 3rd year. Cavs gladly matched and saved money. Upside was 2 years later after Andy performed even better, he got the contract he wanted 6yr +50million. Ferry was hailed a hero by competing execs. http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-johnny-ludden/ferry-credit-varejao-victory–nba.html;_ylt=A0LEVijnDA9WnMUAycgnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTEzczIxaDBlBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDRkZSQTAyXzEEc2VjA3Ny By staring down Varejao’s stubborn agent,… Read more »
That would honestly be a perfectly fair deal for TT.
Henson signs a $44M deal, while Tristan acts like a Muppet.
On the money, EG.
@ MikeO…that’s what I’ve maintained this whole time. TT’s worth 12m a year max.
AGREE 100% WITH jdreyfuss—– THE LONGER THIS LINGERS THE GREATER POTENTIAL FOR TEAM DISSENSION / FAN BETRAYAL —–C’MON T.T. MAN UP AND SIGN ( TELL PAUL TO TAKE A LONG WALK ON A SHORT PIER STRAIGHT INTO LAKE ERIE )
So I am a bit confused. Does this mean that ANYONE can sign him to a contract? Does this mean that if another team offers him any contract we can match that contract and then that’s it? What’s procedure here?
Any team can give him an offer sheet, but the Cavs still have the right to match.
Only teams with cap room can sign him to an offer sheet. The only teams with any cap room right now are Portland and Philly. Next year, there will be many, but the Cavs can match any offer he receives if this saga drags into next year.
Ok, so if he sits this year (Crazy, and has to lower his value a LOT, right?) then his status as a RFA extends to next year?
Yes it does… that’s the tradeoff for not signing the qualifying offer…
Well if there are crickets from the other teams then we’ll know his value going into next year. At this point anyone can drop a 3/53 or 5/94 down, right? Or lower if those numbers weren’t true.
Just as an aside, I’m not convinced we ever had 5/80 on the table. I know that’s been “reported”, but I think that’s a high figure. I think the issue is more like we have 5/60 on the table and he wants 5/74.
If I were the Cavs I’d go back and say I’d do the 3/$53M, but the second and third years either had to be non-guaranteed or team options. He gets basically a treble QA and the team gets flexibility.
And Cols, before your inevitable response, ask yourself if you’ve ever negotiated a contract in a regulated market before arguing that they should spend money blindly to win a championship this year with no thought toward next year and beyond.
The whole point is that the Cavs want to backload the deal to save themselves from paying crazy tax this year. Backloading it three years doesn’t help them all that much.
At this point, all I care about is Rich Paul getting the fattest commission possible.