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Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 best draft selections of the 2010’s

By Dan Gilinsky

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (R) makes a three-point shot over Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry to take the lead in the final moments of the fourth quarter in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California.(Photo credit: BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP via Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving (R) makes a three-point shot over Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry to take the lead in the final moments of the fourth quarter in Game 7 of the NBA Finals on June 19, 2016 in Oakland, California.(Photo credit: BECK DIEFENBACH/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers big man Tristan Thompson and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green fight for a rebound in Game 6 of the 2016 NBA Finals. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

#2: Tristan Thompson

The second-best Cavs’ draft selection of the 2010’s was Tristan Thompson, who was taken at fourth overall in the 2011 NBA Draft.

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Thompson is still currently with the Wine and Gold, and in nearly nine career seasons to this point, has averaged 9.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 28.1 minutes per game.

TT has mostly been a starter, but has spent some time as a reserve, and is at this juncture, a bench player that’s still been bought-in after the Cavs acquired Andre Drummond near the 2020 trade deadline.

Thompson, during his entire career with Cleveland, has been a relentless rebounder, particularly on the offensive end, and has been an outstanding screener both on and off the ball.

That was such a crucial element to Cleveland’s offense in the four years of LeBron James‘ return, and in the postseason, TT’s physical and hustling style always was a key reason the Cavs had so much success.

Thompson had 10.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game in the Cavs’ 2016 NBA Finals comeback as well, and even since with Cleveland rebuilding, the Cavaliers have known what they’re getting from TT by and large. At this point, Thompson is second on the Cavs’ all-time list in offensive rebounds and third in total rebounds, according to Basketball Reference.

Thompson more so pre-Drummond trade had been displaying more of a scoring repertoire, too, and at this point, is on pace for a career-best 12.0 points per game in 2019-20, along with a career-best with 2.1 assists per outing.

Granted, it’s unclear as to whether or not the expiring Thompson will be back with Cleveland following the season, whenever the next free agency period ultimately is.

Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor in a recent mailbag set of responses essentially said he sees their being more of a possibility of Thompson returning than near the Drummond trade, but noted how a sign-and-trade involving TT is seemingly in the cards, too.

At any rate, what TT has brought in terms of effort on both ends of the glass, as a screener, lob threat and being able to switch out a considerable amount in pick-and-roll coverage for such a long time has led to him being the second-best draft selection by Cleveland of the 2010’s.