NBA Rumors: Buzz Surrounding Tristan Thompson, Glen Davis and More
With NBA training camps still over a month away, there's little Association-related news or rumors for fans to cling to in these relative sports-barren dog days of summer.
While many of the league's players are relaxing or prepping on their own for the upcoming season—or participating in ultra-cool exhibition games in Africa with NBA legends—the front-office warriors are still hard at work, trying hard to finalize the rosters before training camp in September.
The dust has mostly settled with the draft, summer league, marquee signings and trades out of the way, but there are still players to be had and signatures to be inked. Here's a rundown of some of the latest rumors from around the league.
Tristan Thompson
It's been a busy offseason in Cleveland, ranging from re-signing several players, including LeBron James and Kevin Love, to picking up a pair of trade exceptions and offloading Brendan Haywood's bloated contract.
Lost in the shuffle somewhat has been power forward Tristan Thompson, one of James' better deputies last season and a fine rebounder on a team that lacks physicality inside. The Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto provided an update Saturday on Thompson's situation with the Cavs:
"They are talking to restricted free agent Tristan Thompson. He will either play for the one-year qualifying offer ($6.8 million) or sign a lucrative extension.
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This isn't a groundbreaking statement, but the fact that negotiations have dragged and the sides are still talking suggest Thompson might have an eye on a future outside of Northeast Ohio.
A $6.8 million salary for Thompson would be the most he's made in a single season as an NBAer, not a bad chunk of change. In most situations, a player would rather have the long-term deal in hand, but the NBA is in a weird transition period with the already-lofty salary cap set to balloon even further next season.
Thompson's offensive efficiency improved last season despite being relegated to reserve status.
| 2013-14 | 31.6 | 11.7 | .477 | 3.4 | 110 | 14.9 |
| 2014-15 | 26.8 | 8.5 | .547 | 4.7 | 121 | 15.6 |
With Love under contract for the next few years and Anderson Varejao likely healthy for the upcoming season, Thompson is again looking at spending more time on the bench than in previous years. Assuming his production holds steady, Thompson could take the one-year deal and try to spin it into a lucrative contract next year or a starting role on another team. He's only 24 years old and has proven to be remarkably durable in his young career.
That said, his best chance to win a championship is in Cleveland, and Pluto did say the Cavs might hand him a "lucrative" extension, although it's unclear how lucrative that might look in a couple of years. Either way, it seems all but guaranteed that Thompson will play in Cleveland this upcoming year.
Glen "Big Baby" Davis has been a bit player for the Los Angeles Clippers since joining the team via trade during the 2013-14 season. The Clippers signed him to a one-year deal this past season, but they haven't recommitted to him, nor has any other NBA team.
And that may be just fine with Davis, who could ply his trade abroad if he doesn't stick with an NBA team, per Sportando.com:
"Glen Davis is open to playing overseas if he doesn’t sign a contract in the NBA, a source told Sportando.
Big Baby is in talks to re-sign with the Clippers but if they won’t reach a deal, the center may join the Chinese League or one of the European top divisions...
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Davis made $1.2 million last season with the Clippers, per Spotrac.com. He's cheap, and a number of teams could seemingly finagle some cap space and squeeze him into the roster. ProBasketballTalk's Sean Highkin noted the Clippers themselves have a roster spot available after waiving Jordan Hamilton.
A move overseas could be a boon to Davis, even if he would be more comfortable stateside. Big Baby averaged just 4.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game last season. Keeping in shape and garnering more playing time in China could keep him primed to return to the league next season, when even larger salaries might await for bit players.
Knicks Add Sasha Vujacic, Looking for a Big Man
According to ESPN.com's Ian Begley, the New York Knicks have secured some veteran depth for their young squad in the form of guard Sasha Vujacic:
"Vujacic’s deal was originally believed to be a training camp pact but league sources said the two sides later agreed to a fully guaranteed contract for the veteran's minimum ($1.35 million).
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Vujacic's long tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers and familiarity with Phil Jackson's triangle offense could make him a valuable player to this team as they grow into the unique offensive system.
The Slovenian guard played all of 10 minutes with the Clippers in the 2013-14 season, and his last meaningful NBA action came back in the 2010-11 season when he played for both the Lakers and New Jersey (not yet Brooklyn) Nets. That season, he averaged 9.8 points in 24.6 minutes per game and a 37 percent clip from beyond the arc.
An interesting signing, but the Knicks might not be done tinkering this summer. The New York Post's Marc Berman noted Vujacic will still have a training camp battle on his hands with Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and that the Knicks are looking to add another player to their frontcourt:
"The Knicks are close to having 17 players solidified for camp, including second-round pick Thanasis Antetokounmpo, whom they expect will agree to a contract.
There are 13 guarantees for the 15-man roster, and they still want to add a proven backup center. Vujacic and the unsigned Antetokounmpo could be fighting for the last guard spot.
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Begley noted the Knicks have some flexibility in this pursuit:
"The Knicks also may not be done adding free agents. They have access to the $2.8 million room exception and are looking for a veteran big man.
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While Thompson is certainly out of range, New York could take a long look at Davis. He's more of a power forward these days, but the 6'9" bruiser has a wide body and can occupy space down low if need be.
Other options include Ryan Hollins, who reportedly drew interest from Dallas in mid-July, per Yahoo Sports' Marc Spears. If the Knicks are really taking the term veteran to heart, they could reach out to Brendan Haywood recently released by the Portland Trail Blazers after arriving in a trade with the Cavaliers.
