CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It’s the latest edition of Hey, Chris!

Despite the NBA suspending play last week and teams bracing for a lengthy absence, there are still many questions with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The submissions for this post came solely from text insiders, who received a message earlier this week to send one question each. The best ones were chosen. Want to receive Cavs Insider texts and communicate directly with me? Sign up for a 14-day free trial with your phone number and perhaps one of your questions will be used in the next edition of Hey, Chris!

You can also submit your question here or tweet @ChrisFedor.

Hey, Chris: Is there any chance Tristan Thompson is back?

This question actually came from multiple subscribers. And it’s complicated.

At the time the Cavaliers traded for Andre Drummond, they believed the chances of him being on the roster for the 2020-21 season were 50/50. So, let’s assume Drummond picks up his player option worth $28.7 million. That’s the most likely outcome given how the value of Drummond-like centers has diminished in recent years, and very few teams possess projected cap space this coming summer. If he opts out, who is paying him that kind of money? Are the Charlotte Hornets or New York Knicks -- two of the teams expected to have room -- more appealing than Cleveland? Plus, he needs to consider the prospect of the cap decreasing as a result of a shortened season.

The most logical path is Drummond opting in, continuing the experiment with the Cavs for another year and hitting the market in 2021. That’s when a bunch of teams, including contenders, will have cap space for the Summer of Giannis.

That scenario -- Drummond picking up his option -- would lead to the Cavs committing more than $71 million to three frontcourt players (Drummond, Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr.) for 2020-21. That, alone, makes it unlikely Thompson returns. The playing time won’t be there and the financial commitment in the frontcourt would be large.

But, as I said, it’s more complicated.

The Cavs like Thompson. They were discussing a contract extension earlier this season. They recognize the unquantifiable value. Since trading for Drummond, forcing Thompson into a changed role, he never complained. Thompson even welcomed the newbie into his post-practice shooting group while spending time with him off the floor. The Cavs couldn’t ask for a better pro as they hope to fix their cracked culture.

So, yes, they would want Thompson back on a team-friendly deal -- even if Drummond opts in. But there are a few more layers here.

What if the Cavs draft another center, something that’s a possibility with intriguing James Wiseman and Onyeka Okongwu considered top-10 prospects? That would diminish the chances of Thompson coming back. At least, from the Cavs point of view.

Still, the decision isn’t entirely theirs. Thompson is an unrestricted free agent. He’s earned a chance to explore the market. What if one of the few teams with cap space makes a pricier-than-expected offer, something well north of the mid-level exception worth around $9 or $10 million annually? Even though Thompson likes Cleveland, discussing how much it would mean to continue climbing the franchise all-time lists, he would have to consider that.

There are plenty of options. For both sides. Given everything, Thompson agreeing to a sign-and-trade, giving him a chance to make more money and getting to a contender, still seems the most likely outcome.

Hey, Chris: Now that John Beilein is gone, do you think Kevin Love wants to be in Cleveland next year? Or at least would be a good solider about it? His leadership has really come around. I’d hate to see him be traded for peanuts.

I don’t think it’s fair to single out Love. Many players -- youngsters and vets -- and coaches on Beilein’s own staff had an issue with the inconsistent and overbearing approach. Early on, Beilein simply wasn’t willing to meet anyone halfway and the message was often muddled and puzzling. Some coaches walked in daily not knowing what to expect.

Love’s unhappiness was obvious. He vented on the court at different points. Those close to him continued to reiterate Love’s desire for a trade. But much of that seemed tied to Beilein and a frustrating situation. Beilein’s departure paved the way for J.B. Bickerstaff to take over, which helps when it comes to Love’s future. Beyond Love’s numbers rising in that short stint, his attitude also improved.

“I think he’s bought in to something bigger than himself,” Bickerstaff said of Love in March. “We’ve obviously had our struggles this year, but he wants to be a part of something. That’s why guys play basketball and not tennis or golf because it is a team sport. The team is always bigger than the individual and he’s bought into that. That’s why I think you see the engagement, you see him every night, he’s at practice every day, he’s battling with his guys. Can’t say enough good things about his leadership, his effort, his consistency."

Bickerstaff’s relationship with Love goes back years, when Love was just entering the NBA as an immature kid out of UCLA. There’s a healthy level of respect between the two. Bickerstaff knows how to get through to Love. It’s a much different connection, one built on trust and belief.

The rebuild has been another point of frustration for Love. It’s been harder on him than anticipated, especially after years of competing for NBA titles. How he handles that going forward is up to him.

As for trading Love for “peanuts,” that wont happen. The Cavs continue to value him. They don’t regret the contract extension. Plus, they have no urgency to dump salary. The potential restricted free agent market dried up with contract extensions for Buddy Hield, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown, Dillon Brooks and others this season. The one restricted free agent with appeal is Brandon Ingram. Multiple sources expect the New Orleans Pelicans to match any offer sheet. So, that path, one that changed with the Drummond addition, is no longer available.

Who could the Cavs get for Love that makes them better both in the short and long term? In any Love deal, they will want some combination of draft picks and young players -- as unrealistic as some around the NBA view that demand.

Hey, Chris: With Matthew Dellavedova’s dramatic impact, the Cavaliers should draft LaMelo Ball. Who needs Garland with a 6-foot-6 playmaker with triple-double capabilities?

Done with Darius Garland already?

The No. 5 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft has had a horrible rookie season. The numbers, while some can be explained and require perspective, are frightening.

He ranks last among all NBA players in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus category -- a stat that points to a player’s estimated on-court impact on team performance, measured in net point differential per 100 offensive and defensive possessions. It takes into account teammates, opponents and additional factors. On offense, the Cavs were slightly better with him off the court. The same on defense.

Garland’s expected strength -- a mesmerizing shooting stroke -- hasn’t translated. The rookie is shooting just 40.1% from the field and 35.5% from 3-point range.

The Cavs expected some of these struggles. It’s why members of the organization were preaching patience -- even going back to the summer, recognizing that Garland wouldn’t be himself until around the All-Star break. Had this been the same setup as last season, if Beilein didn’t become the team’s clear target of dissatisfaction and if Garland didn’t have allies in the locker room already, the whispers about him would have been even louder than those aimed at Collin Sexton in 2018-19.

But the Cavs didn’t ever draft Garland because of who he would be as a rookie. It wasn’t solely about the 2019-20 season. It was about the future, eventually hoping to groom him into the lead guard to help the turnaround.

It’s too soon to change that view. They still believe in him. That doesn’t mean they would ignore LaMelo Ball -- or any other guard in this class.

Hey, Chris: Who do Cavs like in the draft? Give me a few names! Thx!

There’s so much uncertainty with the draft at the moment. According to reports, NBA Vice President Kiki VanDeWeghe sent a memo to NCAA coaches about getting underclassmen feedback on their draft stock. In that memo, he indicated that any information about changes to the pre-draft process would come at a later date, whenever there’s more clarity.

One source is currently operating under the premise that the NBA combine will be cancelled. Another source believes draft visits will be cut way down as well.

Beyond that, teams have already lost chances to scout players. Members of the Cavs front office were going to spread out on scouting trips during conference tournament week and March Madness.

That’s the way the Cavs have done it with general manager Koby Altman. Then, a few days before the NCAA Tournament, after everyone returns from conference play, Altman typically gathers his staff to discuss their overall impressions of the class. Scouts and executives take passionate stances and then the conversation continues. That would have happened two days ago. It didn’t. Once there’s a sense of normalcy around the the league, Altman will probably hold a conference call to discuss.

For now, Altman and others are staying home, spending time with their families, making phone calls to the league and medical experts, and either watching film or compiling statistical breakdowns on some of these prospects.

Who they like depends on where they pick.

The top two prospects, despite the myriad questions surrounding both, seem to be Georgia shooting guard Anthony Edwards and Wiseman. The Cavs got a look at Wiseman before he was ruled ineligible. Altman spent a weekend in Georgia watching Edwards practice and then taking in a game. Ball is in that top-pick mix as well, thanks to his unique size, vision and playmaking potential. Assistant GM Mike Gansey went to watch him at the NBL Blitz in Tazmania in September.

Israeli swingman Deni Avdija is on the radar. The Cavs have done extensive work on him. Director of scouting Brandon Weems saw Avdija in person earlier this season. Altman returned in early March from an in-person trip to Tel Aviv. Gansey stayed overseas a bit longer, watching three Avdija games and bouncing around to other locations to get one last look at some other international prospects, including Theo Maledon, Killian Hayes and Leandro Bolmaro.

USC’s Okongwu is intriguing. Rookie Kevin Porter Jr., who played one season at USC, has talked up “Big O” to Altman a few times. Altman went to USC to watch a practice and game earlier this year.

All of those players, and others, are on the table, depending on where the picks lands. The Cavs won’t disregard any simply because of positional fit. That will certainly factor into the equation, maybe breaking a tie, but it won’t be the driving force. It can’t be. The Cavs will take the most talented prospect.

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