NBA Rumors: Latest Gossip Surrounding Tristan Thompson, Ricky Rubio and More
Halloween decorations are wildly apparent wherever we look, leaves have changed from green to red to yellow, and there's a crispness in the air. This can mean only one thing: A new NBA season is finally upon us.
Even though the offseason is officially over, some franchises are still engulfed in conversations regarding contract extensions for key personnel, and other players are still attempting to figure out the roles they will be playing on their respective teams for the season.
We have a long season ahead of us, and it should be safe to say there will be no shortage of rumors. So, as the season kicks off, let's fire up the first batch of gossip that has recently surfaced on the Web.
Tristan Thompson's Contract
The Cleveland Cavaliers may have been the busiest team over the course of the offseason. The Cavs lucked out in the draft lottery once again, LeBron James returned to his hometown, and Kevin Love came over from Minnesota. Now, that's an overhaul.
Tristan Thompson, a former first-round selection, is entering his fourth season with the team, and he's looking for a rather hefty pay increase, according to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders.
"The Cavaliers and Thompson continue to talk," Kyler wrote. "Word is Thompson’s camp is seeking a deal in the $11-$12 million per season range, which is awfully pricey for what Thompson has produced thus far."
The sides are likely far apart on this deal, and they only have until midnight on Friday to ink something up before the deadline passes. Unless Thompson's camp drops the price, it's highly unlikely Cleveland will shell out that kind of cash for a power forward who hasn't been as dominant as his draft status would suggest.
Thompson and James share the same agent, however, and Brian Windhorst of ESPN alluded to James using his leverage to get a deal done:
Kyler added, "There is a chance that the Cavs and Thompson reach a deal, although sources said both sides seem to be OK if this thing has to get pushed to the summer."
We'll see if Cleveland can get Thompson in a multiyear deal for less than what he's currently asking. If not, these talks will have to reconvene after the season.
Ricky Rubio's Contract
Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Ricky Rubio was selected just one pick behind Thompson in the 2011 NBA draft. He's in the same boat as the power forward, and he's entrenched in contract discussions with his team.
According to Kyler, it sure sounds likely the two parties will strike a deal:
Rubio is coming off a season in which he averaged 9.5 points, 8.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. His camp is looking for a deal close to max value, but Minnesota probably won't be willing to give up that kind of money.
Kyler did suggest a deal sounds close, so we can speculate Rubio has come down slightly from his previous asking price.
Jason Thompson's Trade Interest
There's speculation that the Sacramento Kings will be shifting to a small-ball lineup, with players such as Rudy Gay, Derrick Williams and Omri Casspi sharing the court with center DeMarcus Cousins. That could leave Jason Thompson as a backup center, or the team could look to move him.
According to a recent bit of gossip from Zach Lowe of Grantland, some parties are interested in acquiring Thompson's services: "The rising cap has renewed interest in Thompson as a bench big, according to several sources across the league."
Thompson's role decreased last season, as he started just 61 of the team's 82 games. He played an average of 24.5 minutes per game, putting up 7.1 points—a career low—and 6.4 rebounds. However, according to a tweet from Sean Cunningham of News10 Sacramento, teammates have been raving about Thompson's camp performance this year:
It's not too far-fetched to think a team in need of depth up front will produce favorable compensation.
