The Cleveland Cavaliers and Tristan Thompson are still far from reaching a deal, which is creating speculation that the hardworking forward will eventually decide to leave next summer and sign with the Toronto Raptors.

NBA senior writer Ric Bucher of Bleacher Report said that Thompson, who averaged 8.5 points and 8.0 rebounds last season, will still play in Cleveland next season, but that does not mean the 24-year-old will be a Cavalier for long.

Bucher pointed out that Thompson will either get a long-term deal or accept the one-year qualifying offer from the Cavaliers. If he decides to accept the qualifying offer, Bucher said that Thompson's days in Cleveland will be numbered because he will definitely sign with another team next summer.

Thompson, who is a restricted free agent this offseason, will likely become an unrestricted free agent next season because he will have no other choice but to accept the qualifying offer if the Cavaliers stay firm on their stance.

Thompson and his camp are reportedly pushing for a five-year maximum deal worth around $94 million, but the Cavaliers are not ready to offer such amount. According to Bucher, agent Rich Paul made the Cavaliers aware that Thompson will not sign a long-term deal unless it is a maximum deal.

If Thompson eventually signs the qualifying offer and becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2016, the Raptors are considered the most likely landing spot for the former fourth overall pick.

Thompson is a Canadian, while the Raptors will have the needed cap space to offer a max deal next summer.

Will LeBron James Leave Cleveland Again?

James made it no secret that he wants the Cavaliers to sign Thompson to a long-term deal. The four-time Most Valuable Player said that the do-it-all forward should be a Cavalier for the rest of his career.

What if the Cavaliers and Thompson decide to part ways next summer? Will James follow suit?

According to Bucher, sources within the organization said that the Cavaliers are convinced James will not leave Cleveland again even if Thompson decides to move elsewhere.

James did not sign a long-term deal this summer, but the decision was viewed as a business move because the salary cap is expected to increase dramatically next offseason.

"I'm told privately the Cavaliers are convinced LeBron cannot afford to break Cleveland hearts a second time and leave," Bucher said of James, who signed a two-year deal worth $46.9 million with a player option next year. "Therefore, [James] does not have the leverage that everybody supposes that he has in signing short-term deals."

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