Could Tristan Thompson be coming home in the near future?
The Raptors are interested in bringing the Canadian forward back across the border, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's Sam Amico. The Cavaliers are mired in a four-game losing streak and sit in 13th place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-15 record, and if the season continues along the same path, the team could be a seller ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.
"On the trade front, the Cavs have not taken part in any serious discussions," Amico wrote. "That is highly likely to change as the trade deadline nears in February. Opposing teams are expected to make serious runs at Tristan Thompson and Jordan Clarkson, both players with expiring contracts. Toronto is said to have a high interest in Thompson, Philadelphia in Clarkson."
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Thompson, 28, was raised in nearby Brampton, Ont., and is one of the highest-profile Canadians in the NBA. The ninth-year forward is off to his best start despite his team's struggles, averaging a career-best 13.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.
Of course, any potential trade would need to take salary cap considerations into account. Thompson is in the final year of a contract that will pay him $18.54 million this season, meaning if the Raptors were to make a move, they'd need to send a player (or players) of equal value to Cleveland. Toronto currently has no players making a similar salary to Thompson, so a package deal would be the only way to make the numbers work.
Should Thompson return to Canada, adding him to a group of big men consisting of Marc Gasol, Chris Boucher and Pascal Siakam could boost an already-thriving Raptors squad that currently holds the No. 3 seed in the East.