John Kuntz

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Tristan Thompson is coming off what was easily his worst season as a pro.

Safe to say neither he nor the Cavaliers is hoping for a repeat.

In the run-up to the Cavs' 2018-19 training camp that starts with media day on Sept. 24, cleveland.com is taking a look at each roster player and what might be expected of him this season if this team is to survive LeBron James' departure and make a legitimate run at a playoff spot.

The Cavs need Thompson to play with the sense of urgency he showed in the 2018 postseason, primarily because for the first time in a long while, the playoffs are not guaranteed.

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Season rewind

Thompson averaged 5.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in 53 games last year. The scoring was the lowest of his career and his rebounding was at the second-lowest rate of his career.

Thompson bounced in and out of the starting lineup (and the tabloids) and only appeared in 53 games because of injury. He opened the playoffs out of coach Tyronn Lue's rotation, but Lue went to him for Game 7 of the first round against Indiana and neither of them looked back.

Thompson still only played about 22 minutes per game in the playoffs, but he averaged 14.9 points and 14.1 boards per 100 possessions.

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Great expectations

As Thompson was going through rough times last season, his message was something to the effect of -- look, when the playoffs come around, I'll be ready.

He practiced what he preached. In his first start of the playoffs (Game 7, against the Pacers), he responded with 15 points and 10 boards. Helped save the season.

Thompson, 27, a center is entering his eighth NBA year. He knows LeBron is not here to lift this team, and he is the only player on the Cavs' roster who was in Cleveland before LeBron returned in 2014.

He knows what LeBron-less basketball has looked like. To avoid a repeat, Thompson needs to show the dedication and toughness he gave the Cavs in the playoffs.

Last season was the first of his career in which Thompson averaged fewer than 3.0 offensive rebounds per game. Whether he starts in front of Larry Nance Jr. or comes off the bench, Thompson has to be there to clean up on offense and finish on the pick and roll with Collin Sexton.

Thompson also has to be the defender who used to pride himself on being able to switch onto any guard, as well as the man who kept Al Horford at bay in the conference finals.

If the Cavs found a willing trade partner, they'd consider moving him, too.

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Contract status

Thompson has two years and $36 million left on his contract.

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Plain Dealer wire service

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How Cleveland got him

The Cavs drafted him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft, after taking Kyrie Irving No. 1 that year. Thompson and Sexton are the only players on the Cavs' roster drafted by this organization.

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Tristan Thompson's Instagram

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Big summer news

Well, Tristan's girlfriend and the mother of his second child is Khloe Kardashian. You may have heard.

And yet, the biggest "news" involving Thompson this summer wasn't Kardashian related. Rather, he got into some sort of something with Draymond Green at an L.A. night club in July.

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