Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson could be the next player to be traded.
Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson, the fourth overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, was once considered the team’s ironman after having played 447 consecutive games (a franchise record) before a thumb injury late in the 2016-2017 season forced him out of the lineup for the first time since his rookie year.
While widely regarded as one of the best offensive rebounders in the game, averaging at least 3.0 offensive rebounds per game in every season except in 2017-2018, Thompson’s availability was probably his most important ability.
His efforts on the glass matters. His basketball IQ matters. His lateral agility, which is solid for a center, matters.
However, when Thompson only plays 53 games in a regular season like he did last season, those abilities matter less. When Thompson says things like he’ll never be one hundred percent healthy again, there’s even more cause for pause.
In fact, when it comes down to it, Thompson’s declining health and rate of pay could be seen as factors that make him expendable.
When considering the young big men that are clamoring for playing time, it’s even more possible Cleveland Cavaliers general manager and team owner Dan Gilbert look at Thompson as a tradeable commodity.
Thompson, a client of Rich Paul’s Klutch Sports, will earn nearly $36 million over the next two seasons before becoming an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020. He’ll be the third-highest paid player behind five-time All-Star Kevin Love and veteran point guard George Hill.
However, unlike Hill or even J.R. Smith (the fourth-highest paid player on the roster and another client of Paul), Thompson’s contract is fully guaranteed for the next two seasons.
A quick glimpse at the roster, and at their statistical production, shows that Thompson isn’t the third-most important player on the roster though.
It may be too rudimentary a way to look at player roles and determine that their pay should correlate to their importance to the team but Love, Collin Sexton, Larry Nance Jr., Cedi Osman, Jordan Clarkson and restricted free agent Rodney Hood are all players that will more than likely to play larger roles than Thompson next season and beyond.
Consequently, their production will be more essential for the Cavs to play at an optimal level.
Furthermore, the Cavs have a desire to extend Nance Jr.’s contract and see him as a potential cornerstone player.
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Nance Jr. took the starting role from Thompson during the regular season, only losing it when Cavs head coach Ty Lue opted to start the five players that had the most experience playing together (Love, Thompson, Smith, Kyle Korver and LeBron James) in the playoffs. If he’s not the projected starter for next season, he’ll have every chance to win the starting job in training camp.
The potential of two young big men, 21-year-old center Ante Zizic and 20-year-old Billy Preston, also make Thompson look expendable.
While Nance Jr.’s rim-running on offense and defensive tenacity make him a similar player to Thompson, Zizic and Preston are bigger bodies and better scorers than either Nance Jr. or Thompson. Preston, a two-way signing, isn’t as explosive off the floor as Nance Jr. but he’s athletic and possesses better lateral agility than Thompson.
Thompson might have a defined role next season but will it take away from the development of Nance Jr. and Zizic? If so, will it be worth it considering that Thompson could very well play for another team in just two years?
I don’t believe so.
While the Cavs may not be rushing to trade one of their most selfless and hard-working players immediately after LeBron’s departure, I don’t think they believe that Thompson is as valuable to them as he once was either.
That doesn’t mean he isn’t talented or valuable but just that he doesn’t seem to fit the Cleveland Cavaliers’ needs or plans for the future.
With Thompson’s high annual figure it could be difficult to move him but if teams can figure out a way to move center Bismack Biyombo’s contract then Thompson, who could be a desirable expiring contract next season, can be moved too.
Thompson averages 9.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game for his career (7.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game in the postseason).
He’s amassed 37.4 win shares (13.5 defensive win shares) in that time, proving to be one of the most effective players in the league when allowed to stick to his strengths (rim-running, rebounding, screen-setting and versatile defense).
There are a couple of teams, like the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks, that could use his services this season. Teams like the Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers could come calling around the trade deadline, should their starting or backup centers fail to live up to expectations.
*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com