Previewing the Cavs’ core, player by player

Tristan Thompson

A 3-point specialist in the making? Yes, despite famously not knowing which hand to shoot free throws with until his third NBA season, Tristan Thompson is planning on shooting the 3-pointer this season.

Of course, we will not see Thompson shoot the deep ball at a high rate. Rather, TT is going to stick to what he does best. A walking double-double, Thompson will drastically change the Cleveland Cavaliers if he is able to stay healthy.

At his core, Thompson is one of the best rebounders in the game. He averaged a career-high 10.2 rebounds last season and has grabbed 8.8 rebounds a night across the last eight seasons.

Thompson has been doing more than improving his jump shot over the years. His touch around the rim has consistently grown better as the post hook is a legitimate weapon in his offensive game. TT scored 10.9 points per game last year on an efficient 52.9 percent shooting clip.

It’s still uncertain if he will truly be able to stretch the floor or not for Cleveland. In the preseason, Thompson shot 1-of-4 from deep with his only make coming against an international team.

Whether or not he actually implements 3-point shooting into his game, Thompson will play an important role for Cleveland this season. He will be a starter in nearly every game and will probably lead the team in rebounding.