A year after returning to Cleveland, Tristan Thompson is staying for at least one more season. The 33-year-old center has finalized a one-year deal to stay with the Cleveland Cavaliers, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
After bouncing between five teams in less than four years, Thompson signed a one-year deal to return to Cleveland in 2023. He now signs another short-term deal to provide a veteran presence on the team through the 2024-25 season.
Free agent C Tristan Thompson is finalizing a one-year deal to return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources tell ESPN. Thompson has played 10 of his 13 seasons with the Cavs. President Koby Altman and Klutch CEO Rich Paul are finishing up an agreement. pic.twitter.com/XrgJLPNWIx
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 6, 2024
Thompson was drafted fourth overall by the Cavaliers in 2011, and spent nine seasons with the team — winning an NBA championship in 2016. He signed a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics in 2020, but was traded to the Sacramento Kings a year later. In the years since, Thompson bounced to the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers before settling with his former team ahead of the 2023-24 season.
In January, he was suspended for 25 games after testing positive for two banned substances: ibutamoren, an artificial growth hormone, and SARM LGD-4033, a muscle enhancement drug that mimics the effects of testosterone.
Outside of the suspension, Thompson averaged 11.2 minutes in 49 games with the Cavs, averaging 3.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and one assist per game.
Thompson’s return to the team will provide a veteran presence to Cleveland’s relatively young core, which includes All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland.
