Cleveland Cavaliers: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Rodney Hood #1 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers exchange a high five in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacerson April 18, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: Rodney Hood #1 and Kevin Love #0 of the Cleveland Cavaliers exchange a high five in Game Two of Round One of the 2018 NBA Playoffs against the Indiana Pacerson April 18, 2018 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

3. Tristan Thompson

Tristan Thompson has been much maligned for quite a bit of time now. Not only is his production hard to quantify, but many believe the only reason for his $82 million contract signed back in 2015 was due to the presence of a certain player who also happened to be represented by the same agency.

Following a fairly successful 2018 NBA Playoffs in which he played a key role in the Cavaliers’ run to the Finals, Thompson seems to have re-proven his worth just a little bit, but that still won’t stop people from believing his value only exists next to LeBron James.

He’s never really been much of an offensive threat aside from uncontested looks right at the rim, but more often than not he brings a lot of energy to both ends of the court by relentlessly attacking the glass.

There’s still a role for Thompson in Cleveland, but if he isn’t able to find his niche, it will be hard to convince anyone he isn’t who James made him out to be.