The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly signing veteran forward Tristan Thompson to a one-year deal, via ESPN. Thompson, 33, has spent the majority of his career with the Cavaliers, with the upcoming season his 11th with the team. He was a key piece on the 2016 team that won the Cavaliers their first title in franchise history, and has mostly remained since then except for one-season stints with the Celtics, Kings, Bulls and Pacers.
But Thompson’s best years came with the Cavaliers. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft of the Cavs from Texas, and became a durable, reliable power forward for Cleveland through the team’s championship-contending years. He averaged nine points and 8.3 rebounds for the Cavaliers in 10 seasons.
Thompson certainly isn’t as important to the Cavaliers now on the court as he was during that title run, but his championship experience and veteran leadership will be important on a team that hopes to make a postseason run. Thompson appeared in 49 games for the Cavaliers last season around a 25-game suspension he received after testing positive for a banned substance. Thompson also played some spot minutes in Cleveland’s playoff appearance. He may get limited minutes, but when he’s out there, he fights for rebounds and sets tough screens, both of which are valuable for Cleveland.
The Cavaliers are hoping they can make a deeper run in the playoffs this season after falling to the Celtics in the second round last May.
Cleveland returns mostly the same roster in hopes that some continuity and health will help the team improve. They are also hoping that a change in head coach will get this team over the top. The Cavs parted ways with JB Bickerstaff at the end of the season, and brought in Kenny Atkinson to fill the vacancy. Atkinson was an assistant with the Warriors the last four seasons, and before that was the head coach of the Nets for four years.
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