While most of the starting lineup for the Cleveland Cavaliers appeared set with LeBron James, Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving occupying three spots and Dion Waiters getting the nod at the shooting guard position, there was still a battle for the spot at center. While Anderson Varejao has occupied that spot for several seasons, many believed the rise of Tristan Thompson would push the veteran out. However, with the season less than a week away, head coach David Blatt is going with experience over youth.
The Cavaliers announced that Varejao would be the team's starting center entering the season. Last year the veteran averaged 8.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game while shooting 49.5 percent from the field. Varejao certainly has the defensive abilities, but his lack of creating shots had some convinced Thompson was poised for the spot.
"We're pretty clear on how we want to start and the way we've been playing is pretty much how we're going to go," Blatt said, via Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "We value them both in exactly the same way. Their contribution I hope will continue to be exactly what it was."
Thompson spent a good portion of last season as a starter, but since the arrival of Love and James, he is battling for a different role on the team. Instead the No. 4 pick of the 2010 draft will resume his Sixth Man role , leading the unit off the bench. Blatt stressed that just because Thompson is not a starter does not mean the team does not have faith in his abilities.
"He's one of the best guys out there," Blatt said. "He wants to win and Tristan knows if he's coming in the second wave that his job is going to be just like it would be if he were starting the game, and that's to be Tristan. Be a rebounder, inside scorer, all-around-the-court defender and a guy you can really pair and matchup with any other big man on the team."
Thompson moving to the bench once again brings up the trade rumors surrounding the forward. Thompson has heard the talk for the better part of a year now. He looked poised to be out the door in a deal for Love, but remained on the roster thanks to some positive endorsements from James. Thompson is set to be a restricted free agent next summer and big year could mean more money for him. It is unclear if the Cavaliers intend to meet his contract demands or not.
