INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Ayaw pa ring pumirma ni Tristan Thompson sa inaalok na kontrata ng Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hindi nagpakita ang backup power forward sa training camp ng Cavaliers bilang pagpapatunay na wala siyang interes na tanggapin ang one-year, $6.8 million qualifying offer para sa darating na season.
Sa kabila ng paniniwala ng Cavs at ni superstar LeBron James na mapaplantsa ang naturang negosasyon, mas gusto ni Thompson na makakuha ng long-term deal.
Nagtapos ang deadline noong Huwebes at hindi tinanggap ni Thompson ang qualifying offer ng Cavaliers.
Sinabi ni Cavs coach David Blatt na hindi niya papayagang makaapekto ang isyu ni Thompson’ para sa paghahanda ng kanyang koponan.
“We got a veteran group,” sabi ni Blatt. “We got a very professional group of guys going about their business and going about their jobs the way that they should. The team is working and we are going to continue to do so. We’re just back at it. We’ve got to focus on the now and here and that’s what we’re doing.”
Ang pagmamatigas ni Thompson ay ang ikalawang pagsubok na hinarap ng Cavs matapos ang surgery kay guard Iman Shumpert.
Dahil dito ay halos tatlong buwan na magpapahinga si Shumpert.
Isang elite rebounder na alam ang kanyang papel, si Thompson ay naging key contributor sa pagpasok ng Cleveland sa nakaraang NBA Finals nang magkaroon ng dislocated shoulder si starter Kevin Love.
Dumaan din sa naturang sitwasyon si Cavaliers center Anderson Varejao noong 2007 bago niya pinirmahan ang three-year, $17 million offer sheet sa Charlotte na pinantayan ng Cleveland.
“It wasn’t easy for me. I missed the first 21 games if I remember,” ani Varejao. “But I had to do it back then because I felt like I was disrespected with the offer they offered me. I don’t really know what’s going on with Tristan right now, numbers and stuff, I’m not sure. But I’m pretty confident he will be here soon.”
Inaasahan ni general manager David Griffin na magpapakita na si Thompson sa kanilang training camp.
“We fully expect he’ll be here in some form or fashion and we’re excited to get going,” sabi ni Griffin sa NBA TV. “We’re hopeful that he wants to move forward with his teammates in the same way we want to have Tristan here. If we can come to some agreement we will.”
Si Thompson ay ang fourth overall pick noong 2011 at nagtala ng mga averages na 8.5 points at 8.0 rebounds sa regular season.
Nang magkaroon ng injury si Love ay naglista si Thompson ng 9.6 points at 10.8 rebounds.