Since saying Tristan Thompson should spend the rest of his career with the Cavaliers, LeBron James has toned down the rhetoric significantly.
Now, LeBron – who shares an agent, Rich Paul, with Thompson – has gotten blunt.
Rick Noland of The Chronicle-Telegram:
LJ on TT negotiations: "Im not involved"
— Rick Noland MG/CT (@RickNoland) September 28, 2015
LJ on TT: "I'm very optimistic something will get done, from both sides, long term
— Rick Noland MG/CT (@RickNoland) September 28, 2015
Especially give the multiple reports about LeBron not leaving the Cavaliers over Thompson, I believe him. I don’t think he’s explicitly involved.
But LeBron has expressed an affinity for Paul and his clients, and he obviously wants to win. Winning usually requires spending.
Maybe LeBron wouldn’t resent the organization if Thompson takes the qualifying offer and leaves as an unrestricted free agent next summer. Even if LeBron did, maybe he wouldn’t do anything drastic – like leaving again – over it. In fact, I don’t think he would.
But if I were the Cavs, I sure wouldn’t want to find out.