The Toronto Raptors had long been enamored of its native son Tristan Thompson and recent developments with regards to the 24-year-old's contract standoff with the Cleveland Cavaliers made that possibility not so distant anymore.

Thompson's agent, Rich Paul, who also handles the career of superstar LeBron James, recently commented that his client will leave the Cavs if forced into taking a one-year qualifying offer of about $6.8 million, as reported by ESPN.

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The Toronto, Ontario native had been asking management for a maximum contract of around $94 million for five years, but after six months everything is still on a standstill with regards to his request.

The Cavaliers are reportedly offering Thompson "significantly less" than what he demands as the team is well over the salary cap already, and it was just not enough for the former Texas standout who proved that he was an integral piece to the team's championship run last season.

With the Canadian's seeming unhappiness about his situation in Cleveland, the highly rumored number one alternative for the 2012 NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection is the Raptors.

If Thompson accepts the one-year qualifying offer from the Cavs to become an unrestricted free agent next summer, then it is almost certain that he will be a Raptor next season, according to Fansided's Ryan Greco.

Greco said that barring any untoward incident, Thompson is sure to be headed to Toronto next year if he and Cavs won't agree to a long-term contract this year and if he or the Raptors will play "so poorly" this coming season that mutual interests will no longer be there by next summer comes.

The Cavs may really be thinking twice about keeping Thompson especially now that their frontcourt starters Kevin Love and Anderson Varejao are coming back healthy for the season. Adding Timofey Mozgov into the mix and it is clear why Cleveland is really not believing that Thompson is worth a max salary.

Meanwhile, the Raptors could really use someone like Thompson and might actually become a starter ahead of power forward Patrick Petterson or center Jonas Valanciunas if Dwayne Casey decides to go small ball. Plus, Toronto could also pay him the compensation that he wants.

Uproxx indicated that Thompson was excited to move to Toronto as he said that "it's every Canadian's dream to be a Raptor." The Raptors have recently signed his compatriot Corey Joseph this offseason and it looks like he will be next soon.

TagsNBA 2015, NBA news, NBA News 2015, NBA rumors, NBA Rumors 2015, Tristan Thompson, cleveland cavaliers, Toronto Raptors