The Cleveland Cavaliers will bring back a familiar face this upcoming season, as they agreed to a new one-year deal with veteran center Tristan Thompson.
The Cleveland Cavaliers drafted Tristan Thompson with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. He was the team’s starting center when they won the 2016 NBA title against the 73-9 Golden State Warriors.
The 33-year-old center returned to Cleveland last season via a one-year deal but only played 49 games, averaging 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per night. He was suspended for 25 games without pay after violating the NBA’s drug policy in January.
Signing Tristan Thompson is Cleveland’s latest move this offseason, following the re-signings of Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen.
Cleveland qualified for the playoffs in two straight seasons. After beating the Orlando Magic in seven games during the first round, they fell to the Boston Celtics in five games during the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Tristan Thompson’s role with the Cleveland Cavaliers
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported last month that the Cleveland Cavaliers were lookingfor a “cost-effective, playable, end-of-bench veteran,” so Thompson fits the bill.
Tristan Thompson may no longer be the player he once was, but the team values him for his veteran leadership and championship experience.
The 13-year NBA veteran will be playing behind Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, Dean Wade, and Georges Niang in the frontcourt, and he’ll only get to play if Allen or Mobley sustain injuries.
