Tristan Thompson: Reason for hope or just a fluke?

[Monster]

Let's say I travel back in time 2 years to this board when we were discussing Love to the Cavs deals and I made this prediction.

"TT will be a one of the Cavs top 3 players in back to back Finals and win a title and arguably the team's third best(or most important player) in the series. He would also be considered a well above average defender at both PF and C."

I would have often laughed out of the forum. NOBODY would have predicted just how valuable he has turned out to be. It was absolutely worth it that the Cavs paid him all that money (hell that contract is looking like at worst fair market value now) because they wouldn't have won a title without him.

Many thought TT was a mistake at #4 and at the time Lebron came back to the Cavs it was already being questioned if he was just a guy good enough to get paid but not really worth it. That pick is looking pretty solid right now. Could they have gotten a better player? Probably but TT is pretty valuable to the Cavs at this point.

So does what happen with TT who was still a young productive player that ended up breaking through when the best player in the world give hope other guys can make a major jump quickly also? Was it a fluke or more of a tribute to Lebron? Are there some other guys that people have said "that guy is who he is he isn't getting better" that could still get better? It's fun to think about and TT story is one that I think has somewhat been forgotten because of all the other storylines and the shocking way the Cavs won the title. It's actually a pretty neat story.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

All I remember is being suprised he went that high. I think Valanciunas is better, and I thought Vessey would be better.

That being said, he was the 4th pick, and you have to get that kind of production from a guy picked that high.

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

I don't know...is TT that good? Statistically, he is certainly nothing special....like 6 points, 9 rebounds. He is a fairly strong defender, but I don't think he was a significant reason Cleveland won. Positive contributor....absolutely. But nothing during the postseason screamed that he was a big reason for their success. That team was LBJ 95%....then everyone else.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I give him credit for what he's become on defense, but it's pretty easy to be useful offensively when you're only job is to offensive rebound and set screens and you're allowed to get away with murder before the offensive board. He's not a guy you can give the ball to and say get a bucket. He's not even much of a threat in the PnR. He gets the benefit of having a very small role offensively on that team. He's a solid role player and nothing more which in the scope of a number 4 pick is a little below what you would expect from a pick that high especially when guys like Kawhi and Klay were taken later in the same first round.

[The Rage Monster [enjin:8010341]]

Basically what Hicks said.

He's a good role player (mostly due to his defense) but that's about it. Take Lebron off the team and no cares about him, he'd be a bust.

[Monster]

It seems to me there is a lot of value to be able to play well off star players.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Basically what Hicks said.

He's a good role player (mostly due to his defense) but that's about it. Take Lebron off the team and no cares about him, he'd be a bust.

...not sure about the bust part. The guy can rebound, defend, and play either C or PF. He's not sexy, that's for sure, but he is a very solid big.

I think his value to the Cavs was instrumental in their Finals series win because of his ability to switch onto guards and do a terrific job defending them on the perimeter. To beat Golden State, you absolutely need bigs capable of switching and containing their shooters.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It seems to me there is a lot of value to be able to play well off star players.

Bingo Monster.

I think a more extreme example of a specialist being able to play off a star player is James Jones. Remember his days in Miami? He'd just park in a corner and wait for the ball. 80% of his shots were catch-and-shoot 3's.

Once you get a couple of high-usage superstars, it really allows you to find specialists that can just focus on doing one or two things really, really well.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Basically what Hicks said.

He's a good role player (mostly due to his defense) but that's about it. Take Lebron off the team and no cares about him, he'd be a bust.

...not sure about the bust part. The guy can rebound, defend, and play either C or PF. He's not sexy, that's for sure, but he is a very solid big.

I think his value to the Cavs was instrumental in their Finals series win because of his ability to switch onto guards and do a terrific job defending them on the perimeter. To beat Golden State, you absolutely need bigs capable of switching and containing their shooters.

Yep. I think he showed his value defensively in back-to-back Finals series.

Very few unheralded big men in NBA history have done that.

[The Rage Monster [enjin:8010341]]

Basically what Hicks said.

He's a good role player (mostly due to his defense) but that's about it. Take Lebron off the team and no cares about him, he'd be a bust.

...not sure about the bust part. The guy can rebound, defend, and play either C or PF. He's not sexy, that's for sure, but he is a very solid big.

I think his value to the Cavs was instrumental in their Finals series win because of his ability to switch onto guards and do a terrific job defending them on the perimeter. To beat Golden State, you absolutely need bigs capable of switching and containing their shooters.

He has great value in this specific situation, I won't disagree with that.

Not a bust as in out of the league but in terms of being the 4th overall pick. Picking that high you're definitely hoping for more than just a solid big, you want someone to build the team around.