King James Gospel
Fansided

Tristan Thompson could be odd man out in Cavs center rotation

By Doug Patrick

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 11: Tristan Thompson
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 11: Tristan Thompson /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball as C.J. Miles #0 of the Toronto Raptors defends in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – MAY 03: Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers dribbles the ball as C.J. Miles #0 of the Toronto Raptors defends in the second half of Game Two of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre on May 3, 2018 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Cleveland Cavaliers long-term star Kevin Love

One thing’s for sure: whoever plays center for the Cavs will play alongside Kevin Love. He is a proven star in the league, an accurate three-point shooter, a quality option down low, and a monster rebounder.

As the team’s best player, there is no reality in which Love does not play hefty minutes this season. Unless, of course, he gets injured…

But let’s worry about that when—er, if—it happens.

Channing Frye

More from King James Gospel

At 35-years-old, Channing Frye’s best days are behind him. While he is unreliable in the post and lacks the speed to be an effective defender, the crafty veteran is still six-foot-eleven and can hit the three.

Frye should find a consistent role as Love’s backup so long as he doesn’t leak points. The team will need room for players like Collin Sexton, Rodney Hood, and Jordan Clarkson to operate, and he is the only other big man on the Cavs roster who can shoot from deep.

It’s hard to imagine Frye and Love playing together for significant time because of defense (or lack thereof). But hey, Coach Lue has shown an affinity for high-powered, gun-slinging offenses, so it’s anyone’s guess. I just can’t imagine it going well. Expect Frye to play mostly while Love sits.

Who the race is really between

For Tristan Thompson, his biggest threats to securing a spot in the Cavaliers lineup are Larry Nance Jr. and Ante Zizic.

All three players fill a similar role: the rebounding big man who can score from near the basket.

Coach Lue would be hard-pressed to give minutes to any combination of these players together. The floor would be cramped for the Cavs’ young talent. While teams like the Utah Jazz have made two non-shooting bigs work in the modern NBA era, they’ve done so through elite defense.

None of Cleveland’s big men are as talented on defense as someone like Rudy Gobert.

So, between Thompson, Nance, and Zizic, who will play with Love and Frye?