Tristan Thompson To Leave Cavaliers After The Season If No Deal Is Reached, Says Agent

The Cleveland Cavaliers have already locked down the core that brought them to the NBA Finals last season. However, one key player -- forward Tristan Thompson -- is still searching for his new deal with the Ohio team. According to reports, if no long-term contract is reached before the start of the new season, the power forward is willing to sign a qualifying offer for the 2015 season, which could be his last in Cleveland.

A qualifying offer for Thompson means he stays for at least the next season, but he will become an unrestricted free agent -- and, thus, free to sign with any other NBA team -- after the 2015 season.

According to a tweet from Michael Grange of sportsnet.ca, Thompson’s agent, Rich Paul has stated that it will be the last year his client plays in Cleveland, if they don’t reach a long-term deal.

Earlier in the season, the Cavaliers signed both LeBron James, who is also represented by Paul, and Kevin Love to separate deals worth $46.97 million over two years and $113.21 million over five years, respectively.

Cleveland also signed Iman Shumpert to a four-year extension worth $40 million and tapped Mo Williams, Matthew Dellavedova and Richard Jefferson to short-term deals.

The Cavaliers is not the only team affected by the current contract-extension impasse as Thompson is set to miss action for the Canadian basketball national team in immediate international competitions.

Thompson is seen as a valuable player for the Cavaliers, with his rebounding and energy complementing the scoring of heavy hitters like James, Love and Kyrie Irving. In the recent NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, he averaged 10.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocked shots per game.