THE Detroit Pistons I know 12-year veteran Tristan Thompson well.
They will continue to battle the veteran big man throughout the 2024-25 NBA season.
According to ESPN Adrien WojnarowskiThompson has signed a contract to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal is set for one season. The Cavaliers are welcoming back a long-time player who has been with the Pistons’ rivals since the beginning of his career.
Coming out of Texas, Thompson was selected fourth overall in 2011. From the get-go, Thompson was a role player in Cleveland, appearing in 60 games and making 25 starts. He averaged eight points and seven rebounds as a rookie.
By his second year, Thompson was a full-time starter for the Cavs. He retained that role for the next two seasons before becoming a full-time backup in 2014.
Thompson played for the Cavaliers for the first nine years of his career. In 2020, Thompson made his first career move to the Boston Celtics. His time with the Celtics lasted 54 games. In 2021, Thompson was traded to the Sacramento Kings. Midway through the 2021–22 season, he was part of a trade with the Indiana Pacers. After four games, Thompson reached a buyout agreement with the Pacers. Shortly after, he signed with the Chicago Bulls.
The veteran center did not play at all during the 2022-23 season. He returned to the court in 2023, for a second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Thompson played in 49 games, averaging 11 minutes as a backup. He averaged three points and four rebounds.
Thompson competed against the Pistons 34 times during his career as a member of the Cavs. Although he plays a very different role these days, the veteran center will remain a direct rival for Detroit throughout the 2024-25 NBA season.