Tristan Thompson remains a hold out as he and the Cleveland Cavaliers are in a stalemate with his restricted free agency.

Thompson decided not to sign the Cavaliers' qualifying offer and he's been unable to agree upon terms on a multi-year deal.

"I think it will take a third party event to bridge the gap here," said Windhorst on Zach Lowe's podcast.

"I actually believe it will probably go months," said Windhorst. "This will go well into the regular season."

Windhorst believes there's a lot of parallels between Thompson's situation and the on the Cavaliers underwent in 2007 with Anderson Varejao.

Varejao signed an offer sheet with the Charlotte Bobcats before the stalemate broke.