FRESNO, Calif. - The Cleveland Cavaliers wasted little time knocking out a couple of free-agent priorities on July 1, the first day of free-agency.

The franchise is executing its plan of attack. General Manager David Griffin and his front office staff are working tirelessly.

However, restricted free agent Tristan Thompson wasn't among that group of players to strike a deal and he, in many ways, is the most important signature they need.

There's not a vast gap in contract talks, Northeast Ohio Media Group has learned, and that should be seen as encouraging for Cavalier fans.

The fact that sides have yet to reach terms on a deal shouldn't be worrisome. I'm told there's no animosity amongst the figures involved with the negotiations and a person in the know described it as "just part of the process."

When you start hearing, "Thompson is contemplating taking the qualifying offer," that's when you know the conversations have gone terribly bad. It's nowhere near that point.

But the longer this plays out, the longer LeBron James remains on the open market. The threat of him leaving is remote, but if a delay continues, uneasiness will start to set in. He was loud and clear when he said Thompson should be a Cavalier for life. He wants his offensive rebounding machine back in the wine and gold at all costs.

Reaching agreements with Kevin Love and Iman Shumpert allows the organization to focus all of its efforts on finding common ground with Thompson's aggressive agent in Rich Paul, the same agent who represents James.

Was it a coincidence that a reported Thompson deal of five years at around $80 million was leaked, which immediately led to fellow restricted free agent Draymond Green of the Warriors agreeing to a five-year, $80 million contract?

You can decide for yourself.

Now, Thompson's camp can make the case that its client deserves a lucrative salary north of Green's income. The simple truth was Thompson wasn't agreeing to a deal until Green's financial situation was decided.

And that was likely the script Green's camp was following. That is, until that leak broke out and sped things along. All signs point to Thompson and the Cavaliers working this thing out.

With Green off the board, Thompson can now secure his green and he'll get it.