Tristan Thompson has one more guaranteed game with the Cavaliers.
After that, the guarantee date on his contract will expire. That date is Sunday, Jan. 7, to be exact. That’s when the Cavs will have a decision to make on the veteran reserve center, who is the only member of the 2016 championship team on the current roster.
Technically, the Cavs have two games left before Thompson’s contract officially either expires or is retained — Friday at home vs. the woeful Wizards, and Sunday afternoon, also at home, vs. Victor Wembanyama and the struggling Spurs.
Most likely scenario: The Cavs keep Thompson for the rest of the season. There already was little doubt, considering Thompson has offered his usual dose of energy and leadership in reserve.
But it’s especially true now, given that power forward Evan Mobley is expected to miss about another month with a knee injury. Thompson has proven invaluable during Mobley’s absence and as a backup to starting center Jarrett Allen, even when everyione is healthy.
Thompson, 32, went unsigned all of last season until he was picked up by the Lakers for the playoffs — in which he barely played. But he’s had a basketball rebirth in Cleveland, crashing the glass on offense and acting as an agitator on defense.
He’s appeared in 29 games this season and is averaging 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds. That may not sound like much, but Thompson has never been a numbers guy. It’s more about the pure spirit and hustle he offers. Again, there is no doubting that.
Thompson signed a one-year, $3.2 million deal with the Cavs before training camp, with $200,000 of it guaranteed. The rest is set to be guaranteed after Sunday.
Translation: He’s an absolute bargain and one who Hoops Wire has been led to believe the Cavs will continue to value.
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