Cavaliers Nation Predictions: Which Cleveland Cavaliers Players Are Staying and Which Are Leaving?

4. Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson demonstrated his immense value during the team’s postseason run.

After the season-ending injury to Love during the first round, Thompson was pressed into the starting lineup at power forward. He averaged 9.6 points and 10.8 rebounds and was an absolute beast on the glass and on the defensive side of things.

Considering both Love and Mozgov aren’t exactly defensive stalwarts, Thompson’s value to the Cavs becomes even bigger than one would think.

The issue is not whether the Cavs want him back or not. The issue is, can they afford to bring the four-year veteran? Thompson rejected a four-year, $52 million offer from the franchise before he even had his breakthrough postseason run.

Thompson is a restricted free agent meaning the Cavs can extend their qualifying offer to him, which is worth a little under $6.8 million.

Because of his age (24 years old) and his ability to control a game defensively and on the glass, teams may be willing to shell out a little bit of extra dough for the University of Texas product.

More likely than not however, Griffin will find a way to retain Thompson for at least one more year. It is clear the general manager is very intent on keeping the nucleus together for another run at the championship.

Prediction: Staying

Next: Kevin Love