According to Shams Charania, the Cleveland Cavaliers are closing in on an agreement to bring Tristan Thompson back to the team. Although specifics of the contract are currently unknown, it is expected to be a one-year deal paying at least the veteran’s minimum for Thompson.
Thompson, the fourth overall choice in the 2011 NBA Draft, played his first nine seasons with the Cavaliers. While he was never a high-scoring player, he was a crucial cog in their 2016 championship squad that also featured LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. Perhaps his most significant performance came in Game 6 of the 2016 Finals, when he scored 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help keep the Cavs’ season alive.
Since Thompson’s departure from the Cavaliers in 2020, he has played for a number of other teams, although in limited roles. He has played for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Lakers during that period. Notably, he did not play for the Lakers during the regular season of the previous year, but he did play in six playoff games for the team as they advanced to the Western Conference finals.
Although Thompson is past his prime as a basketball player, the Cavaliers are in need of frontcourt depth and might benefit from his experienced expertise.
Damian Jones was the team’s last legitimate big man after Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Thompson is not expected to get substantial playing time this season, but he provides insurance in case of injury or heavy foul trouble.
The average age of the Cavs’ projected starting five is 24.8, and several crucial players, including Mobley and Darius Garland, participated in the playoffs for the first time in last year’s first round. Max Strus, one of the five, is the only new free agency addition with playoff experience. After losing to the Knicks in five games, this young and inexperienced squad could use some veteran guidance in the locker room, and Thompson can provide that.
The Cavaliers could have made worse use of their final roster place, and the reunion element is a nice touch.