76ers Rival Cavaliers Sign Veteran Champion Ahead of Season

The Cavaliers added a former champion on Monday.

The Cleveland Cavaliers were proving to be a threat to the Philadelphia 76ers and the rest of the Eastern Conference throughout the 2022-2023 NBA season. 

After swinging big on a trade with the Utah Jazz to land the All-Star Donovan Mitchell, the Cavaliers were suddenly viewed as a team that could lock up a playoff spot without having to go through the NBA Play-In Tournament to grab one.

That was the case, but the Cavaliers didn’t find the success they hoped for during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. Despite having a home-court advantage in the first round against the New York Knicks, Cleveland’s inexperience still reared its head and led to a shocking 4-1 victory for the Knicks.

The Cavaliers are still expected to remain playoff contenders in the East for next season, but they recently acquired a former NBA champion to help bring postseason experience to the roster.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Thompson was finalizing a deal with the Cavaliers on Monday night. Thompson’s deal is expected to be partially guaranteed, according to reports.

Last season, Thompson remained off the floor until early April. After signing a deal to join the Los Angeles Lakers, Thompson was added solely for their playoff run. In six games, the veteran averaged five minutes on the court. During that time, he produced two points per game while coming down with two rebounds per game.

Thompson’s return to Cleveland might not result in the same production as his first nine years with the organization, but his four playoff runs with a title attached issue Cleveland a much-needed veteran leader in the locker room and off the bench for the upcoming season.

In three outings against the Cavaliers last year, the Sixers found success with wins in two games with a plus-15 point differential. In the lone loss to the Cavs, the Sixers took a beatdown, losing 113-85, as they were dominated on the glass. Despite a disappointing playoff run last year, the Cavaliers still remain a team to watch for the 76ers.