Restricted free agent Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers are nearing agreement on a five-year, $80 million contract.
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst first reported the deal Wednesday just minutes after power forward Kevin Love posted to The Players Tribune that he was coming back to Cleveland. Love will sign a five-year, $110 million deal.
Thompson, 24, played the final year of his contract for $4.06 million, turning down an offer for about $50 million over five years.
“Tristan’s in a situation where we fully intend to keep Tristan,” Cavaliers general manager David Griffin said before the start of free agency. “He’s in a slightly different situation than the other two guys just in terms of the role he played on this team, but no, we fully intend to have him be here.”
He averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in a reserve role last season, when first-year coach David Blatt bumped Thompson to the bench to get Love in the starting lineup.