Tristan Thompson Drawing Interest From Nets

Now that the Nets are back in business with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, they are aiming to add several more pieces.

One of those pieces is a backup center, and Tristan Thompson is one available free agent who fits that description. And Thompson is a player to keep an eye on as a possibility in Brooklyn, reported Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

Several Hoops Wire sources have confirmed the Nets’ interest in the veteran energy man. Also, as we relayed last month, the Nets also supposedly shared a mutual interest with Dwight Howard, most recently of the Lakers. But that interest has waned, Scotto reported.

Thompson, 31, is 6-foot-9 and currently in search of a new team. His style of hustling play under the basket could complement the rest of the Nets’ roster. He spent his early days of his career with Irving, with the Cavs. They won a title together in 2016.

Irving was the No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland in 2011, Thompson the No. 4 overall.  Along with that, Thompson and Nets guard/forward Ben Simmons share an agent in Rich Paul. So the connections are there.

Interestingly, after being an iron man of sorts with the Cavs, Thompson has become more of a journeyman lately. He has played for four teams over the last two seasons — the Celtics, followed by the Kings, Pacers and Bulls last season.

Overall, he averaged 6.0 points and 5.1 rebounds in 57 total games in 2021-22. He played 30 of those with the Kings, 23 with the Bulls (and just four with the Pacers). Will he play some for the Nets in the upcoming season? Apparently, the answer could be yes.