Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Returning to Cleveland
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Thompson and the Cavaliers agreed to a one-year contract Friday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Thompson rejoined the Cavaliers last season and saw a decrease in production, averaging 3.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in 11.2 minutes per game over 49 regular-season appearances. He'll remain in Cleveland for another season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see his diminished role continue since Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley should see most of the work under the basket.
Thompson posted two points (1-3 FG), two rebounds and one block across 12 minutes during Friday's 103-96 loss to the Magic in Game 6 of the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Thompson played as the primary backup behind Evan Mobley, something that Cleveland fans may be hoping will not happen again. Other than providing additional size, Thompson rarely has much of an impact on the court in the late stages of his career. Jarrett Allen (ribs) will almost certainly be doing everything possible to make it back for Game 7.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Returns from suspension vs. Houston
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Thompson amassed five points (2-3 FG, 1-2 FT), five rebounds, one assist and one steal over 15 minutes during Saturday's 117-103 loss to the Rockets.
It was Thompson's first NBA action since Jan. 22, as the big man served a 25-game suspension for violating the league's Anti-Drug program. Before the suspension, Thompson was typically the first big man off the bench and had a bigger role when Evan Mobley (ankle) missed 22 games after undergoing surgery on his knee in December. Mobley is expected to miss more time after spraining his left ankle against the Celtics on March 5, so Thompson's return comes at an opportune time for the Cavaliers.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Set to return Saturday
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Thompson (suspension) is available for Saturday's game versus the Rockets.
Thompson is set to return to action Saturday after missing the last 25 games due to a suspension for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug Program. The veteran big man is averaging 4.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 15.4 minutes across his last 10 appearances.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Suspended 25 games
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The NBA announced Tuesday that Thompson has been suspended 25 games for violating the league's Anti-Drug Program, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Thompson has been serving as the top backup to starting center Jarrett Allen of late, but he likely would have been at risk at dropping out of the rotation once Evan Mobley (knee) likely returns to action shortly before the All-Star break. With Mobley's return still likely a week or more away, however, the Cavaliers will presumably turn to Damian Jones to fill minutes at center when Allen is off the floor. Thompson is first eligible to return from suspension March 16 versus the Rockets.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Tossed from Thursday's game
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Thompson was ejected from Thursday's game versus the Nets after getting into an altercation with Nic Claxton, C.J. Holmes of the New York Daily News reports.
Thompson will finish Thursday's game with one point (1-4 FT), two rebounds and one steal in 11 minutes before getting ejected. Damian Jones could receive extended minutes behind Jarrett Allen as Cleveland's backup center in Thompson's absence.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Secures seven rebounds off bench
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Thompson racked up six points (3-5 FG), seven rebounds and three assists across 21 minutes during Thursday's 123-104 loss to the Pelicans.
While Thompson was unable to score in double figures for a second consecutive game Thursday, he posted his second-highest rebound total of the season as part of a well-rounded stat line. With Evan Mobley (knee) sidelined, Thompson has played double-digit minutes off the bench in seven of the Cavaliers' last eight matchups. During that time, he averaged 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 16.3 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Limited again Wednesday
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Thompson registered one point (1-2 FT), three rebounds and one block in six minutes during Wednesday's 121-111 win over the Magic.
Thompson played fewer than 10 minutes for the third straight game, continuing his disappointing season. As long as the Cavaliers are healthy, Thompson is simply too far down the pecking order to have any chance at playing meaningful minutes. Hence, there is nothing to see here in terms of fantasy value.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Minimal playing time
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Thompson is averaging 2.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 0.3 blocks and 0.1 steals in 9.2 minutes over nine contests this season.
Thompson has seemingly overtaken Damian Jones as the backup big man, as Thompson has four games with at least 11 minutes since the turn of the month. Expect the 32-year-old center to continue his bench role behind Jarrett Allen for the foreseeable future.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Scores six off bench
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Thompson accumulated six points (3-4 FG) and five rebounds in 13 minutes during Wednesday's 95-89 win over the Knicks.
Thompson wasn't part of the Cavaliers' rotation over the first two games of the season, but he played eight minutes during his season debut against the Pacers on Saturday and has now played double-digit minutes in back-to-back matchups. While it's been encouraging to see the veteran get some playing time, it doesn't appear as though he'll have a fantasy-relevant role during his first year back in Cleveland.
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Cavaliers' Tristan Thompson: Joining Cavaliers
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Thompson is finalizing a deal with the Cavaliers on Monday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.
Entering his age-32 season, Thompson will provide the Cavaliers with some veteran leadership and frontcourt depth. He's not guaranteed to be in the rotation, however, and he's unlikely to make a big fantasy impact. Thompson will compete with Damian Jones for backup minutes behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
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Lakers' Tristan Thompson: Left off injury report
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Thompson (recently signed) isn't listed on the Lakers' injury report for Tuesday's Play-In Tournament matchup against the Timberwolves.
Thompson and Shaquille Harrison were both signed to one-year contracts Sunday, but they were both unavailable for the Lakers' regular-season finale against Utah. While it appears like both recently signed players will suit up Tuesday, neither is guaranteed any playing time, especially if LeBron James (foot), Anthony Davis (foot) and D'Angelo Russell (foot) all suit up as expected.
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Lakers' Tristan Thompson: Won't debut Sunday
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Thompson, who agreed to a one-year contract with the Lakers earlier Sunday, won't play in the team's regular-season finale versus the Jazz, Dan Woike of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Thompson will be available for the Lakers during the club's upcoming postseason run, but he won't be asked to play any minutes until he gets at least one or two practices under his belt. The 6-foot-9 center most recently appeared in 51 games in 2021-22 between stints with the Kings, Pacers and Bulls, averaging 6.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 15.7 minutes per contest. He could challenge Wenyen Gabriel and Mo Bamba for the top backup role behind starting center Anthony Davis.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Starting regular-season finale
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Thompson will start Sunday's game against the Timberwolves.
With several Bulls, including Nikola Vucevic, resting for the finale, Thompson will get a chance to make just his sixth start of the season. In those five previous starts, he's averaged 9.4 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 26.8 minutes per contest.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Ejected late in Thursday's loss
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Thompson posted four points (2-5 FG, 0-1 3Pt), four rebounds and two assists over 15 minutes before getting ejected from Thursday's 126-109 loss to the Pelicans.
The veteran big got tossed inside the final minute of the game after being assessed two quick technical fouls while berating the refs. Thompson's ejection certainly wasn't the reason Chicago lost, but he's had trouble making any kind of impact since joining the team. Over 14 games with the Bulls this season, Thompson is averaging 5.9 points and 4.6 boards in 17.1 minutes a night.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Reverts to bench
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Thompson will come off the bench Wednesday against the Pistons.
Thompson totaled 17 points (8-12 FG, 1-2 FT), 12 rebounds and one assist in 49 minutes while starting the past two games, but Nikola Vucevic (hamstring) will rejoin the lineup Wednesday. Thompson should fill a reduced role off the bench with Vucevic back in action.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Torched by Embiid
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Thompson had 13 points (6-8 FG, 1-2 FT) and nine rebounds over 29 minutes during Monday's 121-106 loss to Philadelphia.
With Nikola Vucevic (hamstring) inactive, Thompson was left to bear the burden of stalling Joel Embiid. The outcome was unsurprising, with Embiid racking up 43 points, and Thompson, as his primary defender, concluding the outing with a minus-nine in the box score. However, Thompson did help offset Embiid's dominance with 13 efficient points of his own. Tough assignment aside, Thompson fills a key role as a backup big when Chicago is fully healthy.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Starting Friday
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Thompson is starting Friday's game against the Bucks.
Thompson joined the Bulls in late February and came off the bench during his first four appearances with the team. He averaged 6.5 points and 4.0 rebounds in 16.8 minutes per game during that time, and he'll take the place of Javonte Green in the starting lineup Friday.
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Bulls' Tristan Thompson: Officially joins Chicago
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Thompson signed a one-year contract with the Bulls on Saturday.
Chicago waived forward Alfonzo McKinnie in a corresponding move to open up a roster spot for Thompson. The 30-year-old is expected to settle in as the top backup to center Nikola Vucevic, a role that will likely afford Thompson around 10-to-15 minutes per game.
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Tristan Thompson: Waived, bound for Chicago
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Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after Wednesday's 113-108 win over the Wizards that Thompson will be waived Thursday, Scott Agness of FieldhouseFiles.com reports. Carlisle then suggested that Thompson will sign with the Bulls upon clearing waivers.
Though he appeared in four straight games for the 20-40 Pacers, Thompson was never viewed as a long-term fit for Indiana, given his status as a veteran on an expiring deal. Nonetheless, Carlisle's announcement of Thompson's impending release as well as the center's next destination was somewhat surprising, especially after the 30-year-old had his best game of the season Wednesday (17 points on 8-for-9 shooting from the field, six rebounds and one block in 21 minutes). Assuming no team is willing picks up the money remaining on the $9.72 million he's owed for 2021-22, Thompson's signing with Chicago on a team-friendly deal should become official during the All-Star break. With the Bulls, Thompson should get the chance to fill a consistent, low-minute role on the second unit behind starting center Nikola Vucevic, as Chicago had yet to settle on a reliable backup option this season.
