Tristan Thompson could play for the one-year qualifying offer next season

Apr 12, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson (13) reaches for a loose ball in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Tristan Thompson is a restricted free agent this summer, and though he remains unsigned at the moment, there's zero chance that he isn't back in a Cavaliers uniform next season.

The only question is, at what price?

Thompson and the Cavaliers are in contract talks, but nothing has been agreed upon just yet. And Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com states the obvious, which is that Thompson could very well decide to play next season on a deal for just one year, worth only $6.8 million.

This isn't breaking news, and Pluto isn't quoting a source in stating this is what will happen. It's merely a fact that Thompson will either agree to a lucrative extension or he won't, and if he doesn't, he'll play next season out on the qualifying offer that Cleveland has tendered.

The more you think about it, the more this may make some sense.

Thompson shares an agent with LeBron James, so he's going to get paid at some point. James wields an incredible amount of power within the Cavaliers organization, and to a certain extent, what he says goes where personnel matters are concerned.

Thompson could try to cash in on his stellar postseason play this summer. But the reality is, once the salary cap spikes upwards of 30 percent in advance of the 2016-17 season, there will be far more money that he's able to earn.

If he takes the long view, Thompson could be a very rich man once the upcoming season is finished. But he'll be back with the Cavaliers no matter what he decides.