NBA Notebook: Tristan Thompson looks back at Celtics tenure and ahead to TV career

Tristan Thompson stood around at the Cavaliers' morning shootarounds contesting his teammates, staying on the floor throughout their workouts and focusing on them. The Cleveland champion from eight years ago stands a long way from his prime and only four other players from that roster remain active in the NBA, Kevin Love likely to assess his future this summer, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James playing out west while Joe Harris became a 10-year veteran this season. 

Thompson nearly saw his time in the league end when nobody called during the 2022-23 season until James' Lakers did just before the playoffs. An impressive defensive stint in the west finals earned him a return to Cleveland, mostly as a veteran presence, though he missed 25 games this season due to a suspension after testing positive for ibutamoren and SARM LGD-4033. 

"I just take it one year at a time," Thompson told Boston Sports Journal this week. "I love playing. I feel like I can still help and contribute like I’ve been doing, whether it’s on the court or with my voice in the locker room, or whatever it may be. Play as long as you can, until they kick you out of the locker room and they put the chain on the doors, keep playing as long as you can. And then from there, you look at your other options." 

Thompson showed he can still contribute in a deep reserve role, grabbing 4.1 offensive rebounds per 36 minutes this postseason with Jarrett Allen injured and providing four points in Games 1 and 4 against the Celtics. He also showed prowess on TV before and after joining LA one year ago, joining ESPN's NBA coverage and hilariously returning to the set for the NBA Finals to give a first-hand account of what it's like to guard Nikola Jokić, having shown some success doing so. Thompson's 12 seasons allowed him to play with and against all the stars of this era, including Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown during an ill-fated 2020-21 season that feels as long ago as that Cavs chip. Only three years later, they look like an insurmountable power. 

Danny Ainge made Thompson his final major free agent signing following the Bubble, trying to supplement a frontcourt that lost Al Horford to Philadelphia two seasons prior and pulled all it could from Daniel Theis. Thompson mostly spent an abbreviated training camp injured, Kemba Walker finished the year with severe knee pain he'd soon succumb to after Brown underwent season-ending wrist surgery, resulting in a five-game playoff exit. The team floated around .500 all year while Thompson touted their larger aspirations following an east finals appearance the prior year. Tatum matched Larry Bird's 60-point Celtics record and became one of the league's best scorers. He and Tatum combined for the best performances of their season in Game 3 to stun the Nets, but the maddening campaign resulted in major changes, including Brad Stevens becoming team president, bringing back Horford and trading Thompson to Sacramento as two of his first moves. 

"I think it was a good experience, being around those guys, helping them build that relationship," Thompson said. "It was tough, just because we were injured a lot and COVID year, so I didn’t get the full experience of the Boston home crowd, but I appreciated it. It was a good time, being able to play for coach Stevens, who’s now in the front office role right after that season ... I think really good college coaches would make good executives, just because they know talent. So I think he’s doing a great job, he won executive of the year this year, so I congratulate him on that, but I’m not surprised. At the end of the day, when you have two players like Jayson and Jaylen, it makes your job easier to fill out a roster.”

Thompson now stared at an opponent hard to believe considering what he left behind. Stevens used trade exceptions to bridge from Gordon Hayward's departure through a failed Evan Fournier trade into Josh Richardson, who became the big salary alongside Romeo Langford that turned into Derrick White. Trading multiple free agent signings to bring Theis back gave them enough salary to trade him and Aaron Nesmith for Malcolm Brogdon, who Stevens later consolidated with Robert Williams III and a pick from the Marcus Smart trade that became Jrue Holiday. That shuffling also freed up Payton Pritchard, who shot 52.6% from the field and 50% from three against Thompson's Cavs across five games. 

That left only Brown, Tatum and Pritchard from that 2021 team, all three in massively different places than Thompson left them. Tatum averaged 6.2 assists per game with 2.4 turnovers in round two after taking 22.2 shots per game, posting 30.6 PPG and 4.6 APG in that 2021 first round against the Nets, including a 50-point Game 3. Brown shot 59.2% against Cleveland, a ridiculous efficiency aided by him finding comfort in his downhill attacking role playing off Tatum and focusing on defense, holding Cavs shooters to 44.6% shooting while guarding them. Beyond all that, Joe Mazzulla, a developmental assistant in 2021 during his second NBA season, now leads Boston as head coach. Thompson remembered Pritchard's insatiable work ethic. Nesmith, also a rookie that year, is now succeeding on a Pacers team one win from the east finals. 

"Joe was working on Payton and Aaron Nesmith. Those were his guys," Thompson said. "Joe’s a good dude, local guy from Rhode Island. So I know for him to be a coach for the Celtics, I know that’s big for him, probably growing up as a kid watching watching the Celtics. He’s a great basketball mind coming from Bob Huggins, having success as a five-year college player. Joe’s a good dude man. He’s good. I’m happy for him.”

Change feels inevitable in Cleveland after the Celtics eliminated the Cavs on Wednesday. The Athletic released a report on internal strife moments after the final buzzer. JB Bickerstaff could lose his job. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland will probably break up this summer and the front-court pairing of Allen and Evan Mobley don't look like they'll get to see out their potential together either. Thompson enters free agency again at 33. 

Thompson expects to return to television when the calls from NBA teams end. An easy role to picture him in given his outspokenness, charisma, experience and knowledge, evident inside Cleveland's locker room as he spoke about Phoenix' cap situation and new second apron restrictions off the top of his head with teammates. He's already eyeing the media shakeup that's possible as the league sells its television rights for beyond 2024-25, which will likely include a renewal with ESPN, the addition of Amazon and the possible end of a decades-long partnership with Turner Sports (TNT) in favor of NBCUniversal, who's reportedly offering $2.5 billion per year. WarnerBros paid roughly $1.2 billion annually to play games on TNT. Thompson, who called his role on TV a walk in the park, also heard Apple could get involved. Thompson, like Bill Simmons, heard the NBC deal could be a slam dunk. 

That would provide an immediate infusion of cash that'll prop up player contracts significantly, perhaps an incentive to stick around for a few more years, but with speculation that the legendary studio show Inside the NBA could come to an end along with TNT's rights, new voices might have to emerge in place of Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O'Neal. Draymond Green joined their panel for the previous round, stirring the pot with criticism of the Celtics for their play through the Cleveland series, while Thompson, still on the inside, spoke more complimentary of his former teammates. 

“Both All-NBA talents, very fortunate that Boston is able to have both of them," he said. "Most teams only have one star, so the fact that they have two of them on the same team, it’s great. Being with them that one year, those kids work. They work. They’re in the gym every day getting up shots, working on their game. They stay late and work on their moves, get to their kill zone spots, so I’m not surprised at the success that they’re having.” 

Here's what else happened around the NBA this week...

Atlanta: Won the NBA Draft lottery, a stunning result that only had a 3.0% chance to happen after the Hawks reached the play-in tournament. Atlanta will pick No. 1 for the first time in franchise history if they decide to keep the pick, an intriguing debate as they assess the futures of Trae Young and Dejounte Murray this offseason. Could the top pick in an uncertain draft combined with one of their star guards bring in a transformative player, perhaps one as great as Donovan Mitchell if he decides to depart? The sheer number of players that could become the top pick doesn't bode well for a team leaping at that opportunity without pressure. Mock drafts have settled on French seven-footer Alex Sarr, a wing-like big, and Zaccharie Risacher a more natural French wing, alongside Serbian point guard Nikola Topic, several top college prospects and multiple members of the G-League Ignite, the most open No. 1 debate since Anthony Bennett went first in 2013. Atlanta moved up nine spots to the top selection in the lottery. 

Boston (won 4-1 vs. CLE): Jayson Tatum and Al Horford combined for dominant nights (47 pts, 25 reb, 14 ast, 5 stl, 3 blk) after struggling earlier in the series, slamming the door on the short-handed Cavs after halftime before Horford left to a standing ovation. The Celtics suffocated the Cleveland offense in two road wins where Donovan Mitchell went down for the series, opening the door for Boston to earn nearly one week off before the east finals. That won't gain Kristaps Porziņģis (calf) much, as Adrian Wojnarowski already reported he's expected to miss the first two games with some hope to return later in the series. Monday marks three weeks since Porziņģis suffered the injury. 

The layoff will help Horford as he prepares to log extended minutes again in his absence, hitting only 28.6% from deep in round two despite his big Game 5. The Cavs targeted him repeatedly on defense in pick-and-rolls, but Joe Mazzulla and Jrue Holiday later admitted a desire to let Cleveland take shots in the paint after they built a three-point volume advantage through Game 4. The east finals begin against Indiana or New York on Tuesday at 8 EST.

"That's when the math really started to shift," Mazzulla said. "To me, once Mitchell went out, the whole thing was, how're you gonna take away their speed? How're you gonna take away their three-point attempts? ... once we went to switching and they're gonna isolate, I thought that was the best thing for our defense, because it took away the Struses, the Merrills, the Morrises and it just made us play one-on-one ... it made us answer the bell. You gotta guard your yard ... individual defense. Man up and do it, and the guys did it." 

Brooklyn: Among the teams prepared to make an offer if Donovan Mitchell asks out this summer, according to Brian Windhorst, who said the Nets and Lakers have offers ready for the Cavaliers with Mitchell entering the final year on his contract. Brooklyn would allow Mitchell to return to New York City in a different location than the Knicks, who he initially thought he'd be joining when the Jazz traded him in 2022. They would pair him with Mikal Bridges and have a large expiring Ben Simmons contract they could utilize alongside future Suns picks that look increasingly valuable from the Kevin Durant trade. Given the players here already, an intriguing first-time coach in Jordi Fernandez and location, along with the Nets' inability to tank due to the James Harden picks owed to Houston, this is a realistic, intriguing destination given the ever-aggressive star-chasing mindset of this franchise. 

Chicago: Lonzo Ball called himself 70% healthy and noted a long summer stands between him and returning to the NBA for the first time since January, 2022. The cartilage transplant he underwent provided a last chance to save Ball's career after his meniscus surgery two seasons ago that derailed it. The Bulls had held out on his return eventually gluing the team together, but Artūras Karnišovas acknowledged change is coming this summer after the team last made a trade in 2021 to bring in Ball and DeMar DeRozan, who's now a free agent. Ball's father said he's 4-5 months away from playing in April, while Ball said he's good enough to play now, but it could be better. He picked up his $21.4-million player option earlier this spring, the final year of his deal. The Bulls received the No. 11 pick in next month's draft, staying in their lottery slot after finally paying off the Magic for NIkola Vucevic in 2023.

Cleveland (lost 1-4 vs. BOS): Donovan Mitchell (calf) went down for the final two games of the Cavs' second-round exit after averaging 31.7 PPG and 5.3 APG on 51.5% shooting (53.3% 3PT), dooming Cleveland, who never saw Jarrett Allen (ribs) return from his first round injury and lost Caris LeVert for Game 5 with a knee bruise. The Cavaliers fared well, only losing 542-506 in total to the potential champion Celtics despite all those ailments. Still, reports dropped immediately following their elimination that cast some doubt on head coach JB Bickerstaff's future, The Athletic citing a spat between he and GM Koby Altman midway through the year over Mitchell's minutes, along with sources noting Darius Garland's dissatisfaction with his role next to Mitchell and the potential that he could ask out this summer. 

Reports also noted some frustration over Allen not pushing back to the floor faster, while LeBron James made an ominous appearance courtside at Game 4. Bickerstaff could still keep his job, maintaining some support and saying he'll coach as long as they let him after Game 5, and Mitchell at least publicly hasn't sent any signal that he'll request a trade as had been long rumored. Evan Mobley shined at center in Allen's absence, perhaps giving Cleveland the ability to retool around a potentially massive return if they deal Mitchell and Allen. If that happens, it'll be a slight shame this group never got to quite see what it was capable of at full strength. 

Dallas (lead 3-2 vs. OKC): Luka Dončić scored 31 points with 10 rebounds and 11 assists to give his Mavericks a Game 5 win and a golden opportunity to return to the west finals for the second time in his tenure with a win on Saturday. This time, given the games they've gotten from Kyrie Irving, PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr. and Daniel Gafford, along with the grind Minnesota or Denver would be escaping from, it feels like the Mavs have a real chance to advance even further if they close the young Thunder out. Irving lauded Dallas' depth after the victory, which has legitimately changed everything here as there's a real argument that flipping Grant Williams for Washington, who's become a steady wing scorer, was the trade of the year. Zach Lowe noted how, with a personnel overhaul, the Mavericks are closing in on a chance to make the Finals because of their defense as much as offense. Dallas ranks sixth in the playoffs with a 109.7 defensive rating. Give them credit for signing Jones Jr. when no one would. Game 6 is at 8 EST. 

Denver (tied 3-3 vs. MIN): Host Game 7 on Sunday after suffering perhaps the most shocking loss of the Nikola Jokić era, blown away by an early 27-2 first half and 22-0 second-half run to lose 115-70 in Game 6 with a chance to close the series out at Minnesota. Now, they'll play a Game 7 for the first time since the Bubble, when they snuck past the Jazz in seven before coming back down 3-1 to the Clippers in round two. They previously beat the Spurs and lost to the Trail Blazers in seven in 2019, but this is a different Jokić, who despite his relative struggles (22 pts, 9-19 FG), stared on along the sideline in a manner reminiscent of LeBron James entering Game 6 at Boston in 2012. The Wolves have what it takes to eliminate Denver, and Jamal Murray has struggled immensely (38.2% FG, 33.3% 3PT) through six games, but this is the kind of game all the greats have won on their title marches.

Detroit: Devastated again with the worst record in the league, falling to the No. 5 overall pick in the lottery. While not nearly the blow missing out on Victor Wembanyama and Brandon Miller proved to be last year, it's still another misfortunate moment for arguably the most destitute franchise in the league right now. This isn't the worst draft to take whoever falls between the international prospects, role players and intriguing college defenders, especially since this team needs defense. James Edwards III mocked them UConn big Donovan Clingan, a fast riser through the pre-draft process. 

Houston: Former Celtics coach Ime Udoka represented the Rockets again at the draft lottery and won, moving up to the No. 3 overall pick with only a 20.3% chance to do so. The rise represents the first major win for Houston since the James Harden trade that brought the unprotected rights to the selection back from Brooklyn in 2021. The Rockets will likely try to move the pick for a player who moves the needle more immediately given Udoka and the front office's desire to accelerate their timeline, which almost culminated in a play-in appearance this season after multiple veteran free agent additions last summer. The Rockets reportedly offered years of firsts back to Brooklyn multiple times, a sign of how aggressive they could be. Look out for them in the Donovan Mitchell sweepstakes if it opens up, especially with some curious whether Houston could make Jalen Green or Alperen Sengun available in the right trade. 

Indiana (tied 3-3 vs. NYK): Pascal Siakam scored 25 points while six Pacers scored in double-figures to save their season and improve to 3-0 at home in their second-round series appearance, already a massive success of a season that could get better with an east finals berth. Josh Hart (abdominal) left the blowout Indiana win, which could open the door to the Pacers winning Game 7 on Sunday out of sheer attrition. They'll need to string together a far better effort than they did in Game 5 though, a blowout loss in New York that followed a Game 4 where it looked like the Knicks had nothing left. Jalen Brunson will still do everything he can to steal a series win, and Tyrese Haliburton needs to provide more scoring after back-to-back sub-20-point scoring nights in what's been an overall inconsistent series for the star who began the season playing on Brunson's level. The Celtics went 3-2 vs. the Pacers this season, but have only faced them once with Siakam in the lineup, a close win at home where Aaron Nesmith scored 26 points. TJ McConnell and Obi Toppin have provided serious bench punch for Indiana, while the Pacers have scored in the paint and on the run at will. 

Lakers: With Ty Lue hopes unlikely given the Clippers' head coach being under contract and potentially receiving an extension this summer, the Lakers have focused their head coaching search on Pelicans assistant James Borrego, Nuggets coach David Adelman, the Heat's Chris Quinn, the Wolves' Micah Nori, the Celtics' Sam Cassell and ESPN analyst JJ Redick, who has emerged as an increasingly likely option despite his lack of NBA head coaching. The Hornets previously pursued Redick, while Cleveland signaled possible interest if JB Bickerstaff is dismissed, further pressuring the Lakers to make a move soon ahead of LeBron James' potential free agency. Redick, who recently began co-hosting a regular podcast with James, has long flashed a basketball mind, but would have to oversee various personalities and roles in a room where everybody's playing with high stakes. Marc Stein reported he's now considered the favorite. If Boston lost Cassell alongside Charles Lee, who's Charlotte-bound when the playoffs end, it'd leave Tony Dobbins and DJ MacLeay at the front of the bench with Amile Jefferson and Matt Reynolds the most likely internal candidates to move into larger roles. Stein also wrote that Doc Rivers hopes to hire Cassell to his staff in Milwaukee, the pair coaching together with both the Clippers and 76ers. 

With Mitchell affirming he's not disgruntled in Cleveland, LA has reportedly assembled an offer for the Cavs star that would almost certainly be built around Austin Reaves, multiple other players and draft picks. 

Minnesota (tied 3-3 vs. DEN): Playing the second Game 7 in franchise history on Sunday against a Nuggets team they once held a 2-0 lead over before three straight losses and Anthony Edwards struggles. The Wolves star promised locker room attendants in Denver that they'd be back for a seventh game, and in front of a raucous crowd unloaded on the Nuggets early and often led by Edwards' 27 points and Jaden McDaniels' 21. Mike Conley returned from Achilles soreness that left him out of Game 5, adding 13 points and five assists. They have a chance to return to the west finals 20 years after doing so with Kevin Garnett, especially with Jamal Murray clearly hobbled, but beating Nikola Jokic in this spot still feels like a mountainous task this young team might not be ready for yet. But did they do just enough to leave Denver with nothing left for the WCF even if they do escape? 

New Orleans: A team to watch if Donovan Mitchell asks out, per Zach Lowe, becoming especially intriguing if they decide to split up Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Free agent center Jonas Valanciunas could depart this summer, and a deal that brings in Mitchell and Jarrett Allen could provide a shakeup that makes New Orleans a serious championship contender and provides Cleveland the star wing it has long needed. 

New York (tied 3-3 vs. IND): Adrian Wojnarowski reported OG Anunoby (hamstring) will miss Game 7 on Sunday at 3:30 while Josh Hart (abdominal) left Game 6 looking in a ton of pain. While Jalen Brunson expressed confidence that Hart will give it a go in the winner-take-all game, the Knicks fell to their last legs even with him, mustering a stunning blowout win at home in Game 5 that could be their last winning effort. Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Anunoby and Hart all stood on the sideline late on Friday as Pascal Siakam led Indiana to one more try at winning the series on the road with a dominant game inside. 

Madison Square Garden's energy could be New York's only advantage, and now with a quick turnaround to Tuesday's Game 1 at Boston, it's hard to imagine the Knicks having much left for the east finals even if they do sneak past the Pacers. Wojnarowski expressed some hope that Anunoby could return that night, however. Alec Burks would likely start, leaving Precious Achiuwa as the only rotation bench player left if Hart is out Sunday. 

Oklahoma City (down 2-3 vs. DAL): Visit Dallas with their season on the line on Saturday, an unfamiliar and strange position for most of this young roster that performed beyond expectations and is now facing the prospect of disappointing. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points with eight assists in Game 5, continuing to do his part as moving Isaiah Joe to the starting lineup over Josh Giddey failed to spark either player. Four players scored double-figures, including Giddey, but it all amounted to only 92 points, Oklahoma City defending well enough between Chet Holmgren and Lu Dort to slow Dallas' offense, but starving for points as the Mavs are able to manipulate their lack of perimeter threats into a stronger defensive performance. It's hard to imagine the Thunder turning this around, and that poses multiple interesting roster questions if they're headed home for the summer. They kept the No. 12 overall pick, conveying from Houston's Russell Westbrook trade. 

Phoenix: Introduced Bucks champion Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach after one year off following his dismissal from Milwaukee. Stressing mostly to increase the Suns' three-point rate, Budenholzer follows enormously successful regular seasons between the Hawks and Bucks in his two previous tenures, while also upholding the defensive emphasis Frank Vogel brought here before his firing. A third coach in three years isn't a great look here, and the Kevin Durant situation already feels tenuous despite it feeling inevitable that he'll at least start the year in Phoenix. Budenholzer feels like a good fit here, and sounded genuinely energized by the opportunity. He dealt with some similarly limited benches on the top-heavy Bucks, but this team's fate will come down to how it can navigate building around Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal's massive contracts 

Sacramento: Mike Brown could become the next coach to make the money that great NBA players make, a market set by Monty Williams, Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr and most recently Budenholzer, who will make roughly $10 million per season with the Suns. It makes you wonder what Joe Mazzulla could command one day if he leads the Celtics to a championship this summer. Shams Charania previously reported he had three years, $14 million total left after last year. 

San Antonio: Moved up again, this time to No. 4 overall, in the draft lottery ahead of a critical summer for building around Victor Wembanyama. Long-running rumors that they could pursue Trae Young haven't materialized into much substance, and with two top French prospects possibly on the board, it'll be interesting to see if the Spurs stay patient with their youth movement or try to make a splash that lands them in the play-in mix next year. The Wizards will pick No. 2 and Houston No. 3 ahead of them after the Hawks won the lottery, knocking back Detroit (5) and Charlotte (6), which bumped back the Raptors enough to gain the Spurs a second top-eight pick.  

Toronto: Will trade Bruce Brown this offseason after acquiring him as part of the Pascal Siakam trade and failing to flip him before the trade deadline. Brown averaged 12.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG and 3.1 APG with Indiana on 47.5% shooting after signing a two-year deal with the Pacers last summer. The second-year team option allowed the Raptors to retain his rights for $23 million, immediately making him one of the most valuable names on the trade market to begin the summer. Toronto could use the draft capital after falling to No. 8 overall in the lottery, which conveyed their pick to San Antonio from the Jakob Poetl trade. 

Utah: An early team with some reported interest in draft prospect Bronny James, who has fared well in early NBA combine testing despite a relatively small stature. LeBron James' son plans to stay in the draft and said he isn't focused on teaming up with his father, long a LeBron aspiration as he approaches 40. Utah reportedly has interest in James at No. 32 overall, an example of just how far a rival could reach ahead of the Lakers (No. 55) in the second round in hopes that it could lure LeBron to their team. It appears unlikely LeBron would actually follow Bronny, and LA remains the favorite to land a player who'd almost certainly go undrafted if not for his name.