Tristan Thompson was traded to the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday as part of the intriguing Domantas Sabonis blockbuster. The word around Indianapolis is that Thompson won’t be putting on a Pacers jersey for the fans in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Thompson is allegedly looking to join a championship contender for a playoff run. If these rumors are true, then that means a buyout is inevitable. But which teams would be the best options for the veteran center?
Potential Landing Spots for Tristan Thompson
Reunion Tour?
If Thompson and the Pacers do part ways, what are the odds that he ends up in a familiar place? Thompson played the majority of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers. His former team is the current four-seed in the east, trailing the first-place Miami Heat by only 1.5 games. A recent trade for walking bucket Caris LeVert has them poised to make a run at the conference finals.
The Cavaliers have good depth in the frontcourt and don’t have a real need for Thompson presently. If Lauri Markkanen misses extended time, then we could see Cleveland shuffle things around in their starting five for depth. Having Thompson’s championship experience would be a valuable locker room addition at least. While this story sounds good, it’s likely that Thompson returning to Cleveland would happen only in the case of injury.
Another potential reunion would be on deck should the Los Angeles Lakers decide to make Thompson an offer. Many fans believed the Lakers would move off of point guard Russell Westbrook before the deadline. Now that it has passed, the word around the league is that the Lakers will focus their attention on the buyout market instead.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have solidified themselves as a challenger for the Western Conference crown. The return of Klay Thompson and the All-Star efforts of Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins have the Warriors set on the perimeter. With second-year center James Wiseman still on an uncertain recovery timeline, Golden State may need the frontcourt depth that Thompson could provide for a few minutes a game in the playoffs.
The Warriors may not be in a hurry to add Thompson, however. Although Wiseman’s return to the rotation may be weeks away, he did participate in contact drills this week for the first time in 10 months. It seems Wiseman will likely return in time, but if he suffers another setback, the Warriors may look to Thompson.
Toronto Raptors
Thompson would be a good fit in Toronto. The question is, do the Raptors meet his standards? Toronto’s dynamic duo of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam have the Raptors sitting in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference as of today. This team has been one of the surprises in the east this year, but each of the five squads ahead of them has a better shot of making a conference finals run. The only way I see this getting done is if interest in Thompson is low amongst the more serious contenders.
Milwaukee Bucks
If the Milwaukee Bucks are looking to supplement their frontcourt while Brook Lopez is out with an injured back, Thompson could be an option that they consider after the trade deadline. Joining the reigning champs might be Thompson’s best bet after a buyout.
Final Thoughts
The Pacers have clearly set themselves up for a rebuild. While they claim to be uncertain of their plans with Thompson, their core of young players and an upcoming lottery pick gives them almost no incentive to put him on the court. Despite what the Pacers have said, a buyout is a near certainty. However, if Thompson is determined to play for a title contender, he has limited options. Don’t be surprised if it takes the veteran big man a few weeks to land with a new team.
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