The Cleveland Cavaliers are nearing an agreement on a long-term deal to re-sign restricted free agent Tristan Thompson, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN.com that the Cavaliers and Thompson are closing in on a pact expected to exceed $80 million over five years to keep the promising power forward in a frontcourt that will also feature Kevin Love after Love announced Wednesday that he's staying in Cleveland.
Although no deal can be officially signed until July 9, when a leaguewide moratorium is lifted, Thompson and the Cavaliers have essentially come to terms on a deal that will undoubtedly please Cavs star LeBron James, who is one of Thompson's biggest fans and whose agents from Klutch Sports -- Rich Paul and Mark Termini -- represent Thompson, as well.
Among the reasons James opted out of the second year of the two-year deal he signed with Cleveland last summer was to take a step back and see whether the Cavs would indeed strike quick deals with the likes of Love and Thompson.
Cleveland still has plenty of work to do in free agency -- with Iman Shumpert, J.R. Smith and Matthew Dellavedova all in line for new contracts, as well -- but the commitments Cavs owner Dan Gilbert already has made in the first few hours of free agency to Love and Thompson send a strong message to James about the franchise's commitment to winning, since it ensures that the Cavaliers are headed for a massive luxury-tax bill after the upcoming season.