Yahoo mentioned Thompson in trade rumors

[gouki88]

Should've just traded Hayward to Indy for Myles Turner and Doug McDermott so we wouldn't be in this Tristan Thompson/big-man struggle mess.

We would instead have two big men of the same calibre (Timelord and Turner) and a clear backup in Theis, as opposed to what we have now. Except way more money invested in Turner, and no TPE flexibility

[jambr380]

This goes back to what I've said in other threads i.e. that Boston overpaid to land Thompson and now realizes what a mistake it was to sign him for the full MLE (even on short years).  There is a reason no other team came close to Boston's offer for him.

Thompson wasn't the worst use of the MLE, and he was really the only guy worth even close to the full MLE that was left. I imagine he had other suitors, too.

I know we have the TPE, but his salary along with Smart allows us to pretty easily get up into the range for most any big money player. I'm not saying this is the plan, but that was always a problem for us in past years. It was also likely the last time we will have the full MLE available to us so getting that mid-level salary could be beneficial.

In addition, he acts as Theis insurance should Daniel sign elsewhere this offseason. I have no problem with the Tristan signing, but would welcome a trade should one come along that upgrades our roster.

[Moranis]

This goes back to what I've said in other threads i.e. that Boston overpaid to land Thompson and now realizes what a mistake it was to sign him for the full MLE (even on short years).  There is a reason no other team came close to Boston's offer for him.

Thompson wasn't the worst use of the MLE, and he was really the only guy worth even close to the full MLE that was left. I imagine he had other suitors, too.

I know we have the TPE, but his salary along with Smart allows us to pretty easily get up into the range for most any big money player. I'm not saying this is the plan, but that was always a problem for us in past years. It was also likely the last time we will have the full MLE available to us so getting that mid-level salary could be beneficial.

In addition, he acts as Theis insurance should Daniel sign elsewhere this offseason. I have no problem with the Tristan signing, but would welcome a trade should one come along that upgrades our roster.

His suitors were the Cavs who offered less money (this has been reported by several sources) and possibly the Clippers who were down to basically the vet minimum to offer at the time.  There was no real competition for his services and certainly no where near the money Boston paid.  It was a short contract and as you say can be salary filler in trades, but it was also a serious overpay for a player whose own team of 9 years didn't come close to matching the dollars.

[colincb]

This goes back to what I've said in other threads i.e. that Boston overpaid to land Thompson and now realizes what a mistake it was to sign him for the full MLE (even on short years).  There is a reason no other team came close to Boston's offer for him.

Thompson wasn't the worst use of the MLE, and he was really the only guy worth even close to the full MLE that was left. I imagine he had other suitors, too.

I know we have the TPE, but his salary along with Smart allows us to pretty easily get up into the range for most any big money player. I'm not saying this is the plan, but that was always a problem for us in past years. It was also likely the last time we will have the full MLE available to us so getting that mid-level salary could be beneficial.

In addition, he acts as Theis insurance should Daniel sign elsewhere this offseason. I have no problem with the Tristan signing, but would welcome a trade should one come along that upgrades our roster.

His suitors were the Cavs who offered less money (this has been reported by several sources) and possibly the Clippers who were down to basically the vet minimum to offer at the time.  There was no real competition for his services and certainly no where near the money Boston paid.  It was a short contract and as you say can be salary filler in trades, but it was also a serious overpay for a player whose own team of 9 years didn't come close to matching the dollars.

Do you know that other teams weren't interested? It was no secret that TOR was looking at centers facing the loss of Gasol and Ibaka and TT is from there and had represented Canada, Seems like a name they would have pursued since they were desperate to sign a center and there weren't many available. TOR did pay Baynes $2 million less, but based on their careers, playoff experience ,and Baynes being 4 years older, it's wouldn't surprise anyone if they made a bid or that BOS preferred Thompson. BTW, it had been reported that TT's agent wanted out of CLE at the trade deadline last season, so unless CLE made him a competitive offer he couldn't refuse, he was gone.

Maybe you have some inside info?

[colincb]

Apparently, it was more than the Cavs and Clippers (and BOS) that had an interest in TT.

Evan Dammarrell of Forbes recently reported that Toronto was a potential suitor for Thompson:

    “Thompson does have interested suitors on the market – mainly the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, according to league sources.”

Chris Mannix of SI

"The Lakers would love to land Tristan Thompson, an ex-LeBron James teammate in Cleveland who would shore up the front line. The Raptors, who could lose both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, are expected to pursue the Toronto-born big man."

[colincb]

double post

[Ed Monix]

Apparently, it was more than the Cavs and Clippers (and BOS) that had an interest in TT.

Evan Dammarrell of Forbes recently reported that Toronto was a potential suitor for Thompson:

    “Thompson does have interested suitors on the market – mainly the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, according to league sources.”

Chris Mannix of SI

"The Lakers would love to land Tristan Thompson, an ex-LeBron James teammate in Cleveland who would shore up the front line. The Raptors, who could lose both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, are expected to pursue the Toronto-born big man."

The Clippers & Lakers have nothing to offer other then their core players, so I would be puzzled about what they would offer. Toronto it's obvious it would involve Baynes + pick or role player (McCaw?)

[byennie]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

[gouki88]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Yeah, he's been exactly as advertised. Come into his own since Valentine's day, basically averaging a double-double on pretty solid efficiency and decent enough defence.

[Ed Monix]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Very true, I am a fan of his game and it's obvious that he has continued to adapt to Stevens system, but if Rob Williams has exceeded expectations and superseded Thompson, a trade may help the Celtics address other areas of need without using the trade exception or future picks.

[jambr380]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Very true, I am a fan of his game and it's obvious that he has continued to adapt to Stevens system, but if Rob Williams has exceeded expectations and superseded Thompson, a trade may help the Celtics address other areas of need without using the trade exception or future picks.

Yeah, I mean if TL wasn't blowing up and we had someone like [current] Baynes instead of Theis, then I don't think anybody would be advocating trading Thompson. He has been just as advertised, just with a little less defense. Most people have just had enough of the two-big line-ups - which Brad has mentioned will be no more with Smart's return - and TT absolutely shouldn't be a 3rd stringer.

Using almost the full TPE would bring us into the tax so shedding his contract makes the most sense, but it's not like he's been a severe disappointment. I would be sad to see him go.

[Moranis]

Apparently, it was more than the Cavs and Clippers (and BOS) that had an interest in TT.

Evan Dammarrell of Forbes recently reported that Toronto was a potential suitor for Thompson:

    “Thompson does have interested suitors on the market – mainly the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Toronto Raptors, according to league sources.”

Chris Mannix of SI

"The Lakers would love to land Tristan Thompson, an ex-LeBron James teammate in Cleveland who would shore up the front line. The Raptors, who could lose both Marc Gasol and Serge Ibaka, are expected to pursue the Toronto-born big man."

They didn't offer him a contract though so I don't consider them suitors.  He had contract offers from 3 teams, the Cavs, Clippers, and Celtics.  That is it.  The Lakers filled all their roster spots with other players and the Raptors never offered him a contract, so I'm sure they made some calls, but they didn't actually offer a contract.  When the Clippers offer came in they had already used the MLE on Ibaka so they had basically the minimum to offer.  It has been reported by several sources that the Cavs offer was less than Boston's.  He chose Boston because they gave him the most money and I do think it was a bit of a scramble by Ainge because Millsap had just turned Boston down and there weren't many players left on the market.  So Ainge saw Thompson still out there and gave him a big number on short years to ensure he got something out of free agency.  I do think though it was a mistake and I do think Ainge regrets the signing as Thompson isn't worth 9.5 million a year and never was.

[Jvalin]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Yeah, he's been exactly as advertised. Come into his own since Valentine's day, basically averaging a double-double on pretty solid efficiency and decent enough defence.

Exactly as advertised indeed: an overpaid role player.

[Roy H.]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Honestly, I never got the excitement about the signing in the first place. People seemed to believe that Thompson was some thing that he wasn’t.

I think that you are correct, he is exactly what we should have expected. He doesn’t shoot, he doesn’t pass, he plays mediocre defense.  He rebounds and scores inside. 

[Moranis]

You'd think TT fell off a cliff the way he's discussed in Boston / on here.

He averaged 14 and 12 per 36 last year, on 12 FGA
14 and 13 the year before. All career highs.
This year, he's putting up 13 and 13 on 10 FGA.

He's almost exactly the same player. Maybe it's the microscope...

Honestly, I never got the excitement about the signing in the first place. People seemed to believe that Thompson was some thing that he wasn’t.

I think that you are correct, he is exactly what we should have expected. He doesn’t shoot, he doesn’t pass, he plays mediocre defense.  He rebounds and scores inside.

Yeah, there was this notion that Thompson was a better defender than he actually was and when it turned out he wasn't the defender everyone thought he was there was a bit of a letdown.  Thompson is the exact same player he has always been, which in my mind isn't worth 9.5 million a year, even for just 2 years.  So in that, plus given his market, I absolutely believe Ainge overpaid for him.  Now his contract is useful as flotsam in trades, but because it has the extra year there are only certain teams that would take him on before the offseason when he becomes expiring.