The Cavaliers have signed forward/center Tristan Thompson, the team announced on Tuesday.
According to reports, it’s a one-year deal.
Thompson, a vital figure on Cleveland’s 2016 championship team and a part of the Cavs’ teams that went to four straight NBA Finals, was selected fourth by the Cavs in 2011 and spent the first nine seasons of his career in Cleveland.
Last season, the 12-year veteran signed with the Lakers in April and appeared in six postseason games.
“Tristan embodies every trait we want as part of our team culture, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring his experience and character back into our franchise,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a press release. “His impact both on and off the court is immeasurable, and his history with our team adds a layer of familiarity, leadership, and physicality that will undoubtedly make a positive impact with our younger players. An integral part of our four consecutive NBA Finals trips and an NBA Championship in 2016, Tristan represented the organization with the utmost charm and professionalism during his nine seasons in Northeast Ohio. We are thrilled to reunite with Tristan and welcome him and his family back to the Cavaliers family.”
Thompson still ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in offensive rebounds (second, 2,115), total rebounds (third, 5,393), defensive rebounds (fifth, 3,278), blocks (sixth, 447), games played (seventh, 619) and minutes (eighth, 17,373). His 447 consecutive regular season games played from Feb. 10, 2012, to April 4, 2017, remains the longest streak in Cavaliers history. Additionally, Thompson holds the franchise record for most offensive rebounds in a single season with 306 in 2012-13.
Over his career, Thompson has played in 730 regular season games (478 starts) for Cleveland, Boston, Sacramento, Indiana, and Chicago, with averages of 9.0 points on .519 shooting from the field and 8.4 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per contest. Thompson is one of only four players in franchise history to accumulate at least 5,000 points and 5,000 rebounds, joining LeBron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and Brad Daugherty.
Thompson is a fan favorite and brings postseason experience to Cleveland, and he could give the Cavs solid minutes off the bench.
