A year after returning to Cleveland, Tristan Thompson is staying for at least one more season. The 33-year-old center has finalized a one-year deal to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After bouncing between five teams in less than four years, Thompson signed a one-year deal to return to Cleveland in 2023. He is now signing another short-term deal to provide a veteran presence on the team through the 2024-2025 season.
Free agent C Tristan Thompson is finalizing a one-year deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. Thompson played 10 of his 13 seasons with the Cavs. President Koby Altman and Klutch CEO Rich Paul finalize a deal. pic.twitter.com/XrgJLPNWIx
– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) 6 September 2024
Thompson was drafted fourth overall by the Cavaliers in 2011, and spent nine seasons with the team – including an NBA championship in 2016. He signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics in 2020, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings a year later. . In the years since, Thompson bounced around to the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers before settling with his former team ahead of the 2023-2024 season.
In January, he was suspended for 25 games after testing positive for two banned substances: ibutamoren, an artificial growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, a muscle-enhancing drug that mimics the effects of testosterone.
Outside of the suspension, Thompson averaged 11:12 minutes in 49 games with the Cavs, averaging 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and one assist per game.
Thompson’s return to the team will provide a veteran presence to Cleveland’s relatively young core, which includes All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
