The Cleveland Cavaliers will likely make roster moves before the 2014-15 NBA season trade deadline with reports suggesting that the Cavs might part ways with Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters.
Chuck Myron, a trusted NBA insider from Hoops Rumors who previously reported accurate trade talks, said in a recent chat session that while the Cavaliers are still quiet on the trade front, they will likely trade Thompson before the February deadline.
Before the season started, the Cavaliers signed Anderson Varejao to a three-year, $30 million deal, but did not offer a lucrative contract to secure Thompson's long-term future in Cleveland.
Thompson, who is averaging 10.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game this season, will become a restricted free agent next summer. The 23-year-old reportedly turned down a four-year, $48 million offer before the season started because his camp believes that he could get bigger offer on the free agency market next summer.
With Thompson heading into free agency, the Cavaliers might just decide to trade the former Texas standout instead of running risk of losing him before the deadline.
And in the event the Cavaliers decide to part ways with Thompson, Myron believes that the Cavaliers might negotiate with the Milwaukee Bucks or the Sacramento Kings. The Bucks might be open to trading John Henson, Ersan Ilyasova or Larry Sanders, while the Kings could make Carl Landry and Jason Thompson available in trades.
If they fail to find a taker, the Cavaliers will look to negotiate a new deal with Thompson next summer. But if no deal is reached, Myron indicated that Cleveland might just let him go to pursue a marquee free agent in the offseason.
Aside from Thompson, Waiters could also find himself changing uniforms before the deadline if the third-year guard fails to fit into what the Cavaliers are trying to do this season.
Waiters averaged 15.9 points and 3.0 assists last year, but posted just 7.5 points in their first four games this season after being reduced to the team's fourth scoring option. The 22-year-old admitted that he is having difficulties adjusting to his new role as a catch-and-shoot guard.
"That's not my game," Waiters said via Ohio.com. "I can do it, but you know what I'm effective at pick-and-roll and things like that."
Before the season started, reports indicated that the Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers talked about a possible deal involving Waiters and All-Star center Roy Hibbert - a deal which could be negotiated again before the deadline.
