Now Thompson is a free agent and is seeking a long-term deal.

Thompson, 24, is now in the middle of a contract dispute with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

This is all to the dismay of James who has vocalized he would like Thompson to stay long-term in Cleveland and that he would like the whole team to attend this gathering in Miami. Thompson will not be at LeBron James’ training camp in Miami.

There are areas of concern – Tristan Thompson isn’t signed, Kyrie Irving may not play until January, Kevin Love probably won’t be ready to go at the start of camp and Anderson Varejao still isn’t 100 percent – but they are overwhelmingly trumped by the tremendously justified optimism surrounding this extremely talented team. Different free agent acquisitions by Cleveland embrace Kendrick Perkins, Richard Jefferson, Mo Williams and Sasha Kaun. Starting center Timofey Mozgov missed the workout as he is still recovering from a knee procedure this summer. The Cavaliers are offering him for less.

However, the Cavaliers feel that offering $94 million is too much, especially after Thompson failed to get another lucrative offer from competing teams. Offering Thompson a max contract would put the franchise deeper into the luxury tax penalties, making it extremely expensive to sign him.

With the two sides still miles away from reaching a deal, it seems that an alternative would see Thompson signing a qualifying offer of $6.8 million for the coming season instead.

Thompson agent Rich Paul expressed his feelings about the contract impasse to several media outlets that if his client is forced into accepting a one-year contract, the 2015-2016 season will be his last year with the team. Paul reportedly thinks the Raptors and other teams are out there willing to give Thompson the max next summer.

The 27-year-old averaged 16.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game on 43.4% shooting last season, his first with the Cavaliers.