Tristan Thompson Is The New Mr. Cavalier
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
There’s no scenario where the Cleveland Cavaliers should trade Tristan Thompson this season. With Kevin Love being out for most of the year, TT has been the glue that’s kept the team together. Despite the Cavs out of playoff contention, they can’t afford for him to be traded at this point.
Let’s say that Kevin Love comes back healthy. The Cavs now posses a formidable 4 and 5. Like they did during their time on Cleveland’s championship run, the two are a great pairing. Perhaps placing them together might enable the Cavs to obtain some more wins. Although, some believe that’s not what the Cavs want to do.
While the main goal of Cleveland is to compete, the fans (and probably some front office staff) think tanking is the way to go. The big prize is Duke freshman, Zion Williamson. Of course, the Cavs already have their dominant big with Thompson. Regardless of what you do with Love, it’s apparent after the team’s last 2 weeks, Thompson is the one who the Cavs need most.
Without going too in-depth with the stats, Tristan Thompson might be one of the league’s best rebounders. This holds true on the offensive side of the ball. For the 2018-19 season, he’s averaged 5 offensive boards per game. That’s 5 extra possessions for the Cavaliers.
This might not seem like a lot, but if the Cavs can score just 7 points off of those extra possessions he creates, that’s more 7 extra points they wouldn’t have had he not gathered the rebound (duh). It’s essentially a free possession when he snags the offensive board. Yet, it’s more about his hustle and determination than the additional points.
You need the fire Thompson brings to the table. Without him, the Cavs are lifeless. The offense doesn’t get rebounds, team’s are getting inside a lot easier, and none of the Cavs big men are capable of playing at his level. Larry Nance Jr. has done an admirable job filling in, but he’s been no Thompson. Ante Zizic is too raw to make a difference. Channing Frye isn’t able to keep up with today’s NBA.
It’s worth pointing out Thompson’s scoring averages. The current 12 points per game is the highest of his career. He’s taken a step forward since the departure of LeBron. That’s not something many can say. You’d expect his points to go up, but the rebounding and defense? That’s somewhat shocking.
This is why Tristan Thompson is so integral to the team. The replacements on the Cavaliers aren’t exactly ideal. You can make the case Zion Williamson will be the next big thing, but what if you don’t get the 1 pick? What if he’s not the superstar everyone believes he’ll be? The sure thing for Cavs is Thompson.
There’s no NBA team that’ll willingly take on Thompson’s contract. The Cavaliers know this, and should have every intention of keeping him. Why deprive yourself of an All-Star talent? The only way you get rid of a player like Thompson is for the continued growth of guys such as Larry Nance Jr and Ante Zizic. Yes, you want these guys to play, as they are the future of your team. Still, Thompson can be a major part of the Cavs rebuilding process.
At only 27 years of age, he’s still got some tread on the tires. You can’t count Tristan out as your best player. When Love comes back things will get interesting, as they both need to find their footing in the lineup. I’d say the Cavs aren’t too far away from a playoff spot. Given they find a head coach and sign a few free agents and draft picks (wherever they are picking) next season.
You’ll be hard pressed to find someone as gritty and hard working as Tristan Thompson. This is why the Cleveland Cavaliers need him in the lineup. There aren’t many better than him in the NBA at what be does best. Keeping him should be of utmost importance.
Daniel is a guru of baseball and basketball prospects. He’s a very experienced Amusement Park traveler as well. Follow him and his hot takes on Insta @dgentleman9288
