Thompson ibinibitin ang Cavaliers

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio – Ayaw pa ring pu­mirma ni Tristan Thompson sa inaalok na kon­trata ng Cleveland Ca­valiers.

Hindi nagpakita ang backup power forward sa training camp ng Ca­valiers bilang pagpapatunay na wala siyang in­teres na tanggapin ang one-year, $6.8 million qua­lifying offer para sa da­rating na season.

Sa kabila ng paniniwala ng Cavs at ni su­per­star LeBron James na mapaplantsa ang na­tu­rang negosasyon, mas gusto ni Thompson na makakuha ng long-term deal.

Nagtapos ang deadline noong Huwebes at hindi tinanggap ni Thompson ang quali­fying offer ng Cavaliers.

Sinabi ni Cavs coach David Blatt na hin­di niya papayagang ma­kaapekto ang isyu ni Thompson’ para sa pag­hahanda ng kanyang koponan.

“We got a veteran group,” sabi ni Blatt. “We got a very professional group of guys going about their business and going about their jobs the way that they should. The team is working and we are going to continue to do so. We’re just back at it. We’ve got to focus on the now and here and that’s what we’re doing.”

Ang pagmamatigas ni Thompson ay ang ika­lawang pagsubok na hinarap ng Cavs matapos ang surgery kay guard Iman Shumpert.

Dahil dito ay halos tat­long buwan na mag­pa­pahinga si Shumpert.

Isang elite rebounder na alam ang kanyang pa­pel, si Thompson ay naging key contributor sa pagpasok ng Cleveland sa nakaraang NBA Fi­nals  nang magkaroon ng dislocated shoulder si starter Kevin Love.

Dumaan din sa natu­rang sitwasyon si Cavaliers center Anderson Va­rejao noong 2007 ba­go niya pinirmahan ang three-year, $17 million offer sheet sa Charlotte na pinantayan ng Cleveland.

“It wasn’t easy for me. I missed the first 21 games if I remember,” ani Varejao. “But I had to do it back then because I felt like I was disrespected with the offer they offered me. I don’t really know what’s going on with Tristan right now, numbers and stuff, I’m not sure. But I’m pretty confident he will be here soon.”

Inaasahan ni general manager David Griffin na magpapakita na si Thompson sa kanilang trai­ning camp.

“We fully expect he’ll be here in some form or fashion and we’re exci­ted to get going,” sabi ni Griffin sa NBA TV. “We’re hopeful that he wants to move forward with his teammates in the same way we want to have Tristan here. If we can come to some agreement we will.”

Si Thompson ay ang fourth overall pick no­ong 2011 at nagtala ng mga averages na 8.5 points at 8.0 rebounds sa regular season.

Nang magkaroon ng injury si Love ay naglista si Thompson ng 9.6 points at 10.8 rebounds.