Tristan Thompson and the Cleveland Cavaliers had been at a standstill due to a disagreement on what they felt was the appropriate amount for a new contract all summer long, but the distraction came to an end on Wednesday when it was announced that the two sides have come to an agreement: a five-year, $82 million deal.
Thompson played a critical role last season during the Cavaliers’ championship run after Kevin Love went down with an injury in the first round of the playoffs. With Love back and healthy this season, however, Thompson will likely come off the bench, making him a very, very expensive role player. The new contract also will make him the 6th highest paid power forward in the league.
After seeing the breaking news of the contract, DeMarcus Cousins was very expressive about how he felt about the deal:
How much??? ????
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) October 21, 2015
We don’t really know what relationship, if any, the two have with each other, so it’s unclear whether Cousins is simply impressed with the dollar amount or if he’s questioning the value of Thompson. From face value, the reaction seems to indicate the latter.
Jim Park is a blogger and editor of Sheridan Hoops. Follow him on twitter @SheridanBlog.