Cavaliers Bring Back Tristan Thompson

The Cavaliers have re-signed veteran Tristan Thompson on a one-year deal.

Thompson appeared in 49 games for the Cavs this past season, averaging 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per contest.

In his role off the bench, Thompson appeared to be playing with a spring in his step, flashing shades of the vintage Double T who helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA title in 2016.

That came to a screeching halt when the NBA suspended Thompson for 25 games after testing positive for banned substances. Thompson served his suspension from mid-January to March.

Cleveland selected the University of Texas alum with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft. At the time, he was the highest drafted Canadian-born player in league history.

Thompson ranks among the franchise’s all-time leaders in offensive rebounds (second, 2,188), total rebounds (third, 5,567), defensive rebounds (fifth, 3,379), blocks (fifth, 461), games played (fifth, 668) and minutes (eighth, 17,922). His 447 consecutive regular-season games played from Feb. 10, 2012, to April 4, 2017, remains the longest streak in Cavaliers history.

Over the course of his 13-year career, Thompson has played in 779 regular-season games (478 starts) for Cleveland, Boston, Sacramento, Indiana and Chicago, with averages of 8.7 points on .521 shooting from the field and 8.1 rebounds in 25.8 minutes per contest.

Thompson, who started all 21 postseason games during the Cavaliers’ 2016 NBA title run, has played in 104 playoff games (70 starts) over his career, averaging 6.5 points on .557 shooting from the field and 7.2 rebounds in 25.2 minutes.

Thompson also is the Cavaliers’ all-time postseason leader in offensive rebounds (297) and ranks second in franchise playoff history in total rebounds (686), third in defensive rebounds (389), second in games played (88), fourth in blocked shots (68), ninth in points scored (613) and ninth in field goals made (231).