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Cleveland Cavaliers: Ranking their last 6 NBA Draft Lottery picks

By Tony Pesta

INDEPENDENCE, OH - JUNE 24: Kyrie Irving #15 and Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait at Cleveland Clinic Courts on June 24, 2011 in Independence 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 2011 NBAE. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images)
INDEPENDENCE, OH - JUNE 24: Kyrie Irving #15 and Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers poses for a portrait at Cleveland Clinic Courts on June 24, 2011 in Independence 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 2011 NBAE. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/NBAE/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

4. Tristan Thompson

2011 NBA Draft (No. 4 overall)

Now we begin to look at the draft selections that actually worked out for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Tristan Thompson was one of two players that the Cavaliers selected in the top five of the 2011 NBA Draft. Thompson was fresh off of averaging 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.4 blocks a game as a freshman for Texas and was hoping to become an elite big man in the NBA.

It became clear very quickly that Thompson was going to require a lot of work before becoming a valuable player. His skill-set was very unpolished and his footwork was poor. Thompson actually wasn’t even sure which hand he should shoot with, leading him to change his free throw form in the 2013-14 season.

One thing that always kept Thompson in the rotation was his energy. Not many players in the league had the same drive as Thompson, and he was relentless in attacking the glass. This eventually paid off for TT when LeBron James returned to Cleveland and fell in love with Thompson’s attitude.

His performance in the 2016 NBA Finals is likely what Thompson will be remembered for in Cleveland. With Kevin Love suffering from injury and the Cavs trailing 3-1 in the series, TT put up 10.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in Games 5-6. This extra boost helped the Cavaliers win their first NBA championship.

Now, with most of the 2016 championship team gone, Thompson continues to leave it all on the court for The Land. He is by no means a superstar, but his dedication to the city is something that will help him be an icon in Cleveland forever.

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