Mychel Thompson’s future with the Cavaliers is uncertain, but, in his mind, he proved something to himself last week.
Thompson, an undrafted rookie guard from Pepperdine University, is convinced he can become a productive player in the NBA.
“I know I can,” said Thompson, whose pedigree suggests he’s capable of succeeding — his father, Mychal, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft and his brother, Klay, was the No. 11 pick last year. “When I was younger, I used to look up to these guys, and now I’m here.
“It’s surreal, but when I’m out there, I don’t even think about it. If I’m sitting in the locker room, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m going against Ray Allen.’ But once I’m out there, it’s just like playing against anyone. It’s like playing against my brother in the backyard when I was 12.”
Thompson, 23, has started the Cavs’ past three games while guards Daniel Gibson, who has a soft tissue infection in his neck, and Anthony Parker, who has an injured back, have sat out. However, Thompson’s recent opportunities don’t ensure he’ll have a long stay with the Cavs, who took Sunday off and will practice today in preparation for their road game Tuesday against the Miami Heat.
All player contracts become guaranteed Friday. Thompson could be waived because he does not have a guaranteed deal. His salary of $473,604 isn’t a significant issue, but the Cavs probably want roster flexibility as the March 15 trade deadline approaches.
So Thompson could be looking for a job with another team in the near future. Regardless, he’s thankful for the chances he’s been given lately.
“It’s been a good opportunity to get out there and try to show coaches what I can do in game situations,” he said. “I haven’t played my best basketball. I feel I’ve played pretty well defensively. When I get my opportunity, I’ve gotta knock shots down, but it’s been a big adjustment trying to get used to the speed. I’m definitely trying to improve every game I’m out there.”
The good and the bad
In five games this season, including his three recent starts, Thompson has shot 7-of-24 from the field (29.2 percent), including 4-of-11 from 3-point range. He’s averaging 3.6 points, one rebound and 1.4 assists per game.
The 6-foot-6, 211-pound Thompson made two 3-pointers early in the second half Saturday night, helping the Cavs outscore the defending-champion Dallas Mavericks 27-13 in the third quarter. Kyrie Irving and Anderson Varejao then came through in the clutch to lift the Cavs to a 91-88 victory. Thompson finished 2-of-6 from the field with six points, a rebound and two assists in about 20 minutes.
Last Friday, Thompson missed all six of his shots and went scoreless in the Cavs’ 102-94 loss to the Orlando Magic. In his first start, he shot 3-of-9 and finished with eight points and four assists in the Cavs’ 93-90 loss to the Boston Celtics. He received praise from coach Byron Scott for his defensive effort against Allen in the defeat and in the Cavs’ previous game, an 88-87 win over the Celtics, when Thompson came off the bench.
“He does a lot of little things well, and all those little things he can do better,” Scott said. “Those are just the things he has to continue to work on. His ball handling, his passing, his defense is pretty good, but there’s not really one thing that you can say he’s terrible at. He’s pretty decent in all areas, and when you’re pretty decent in all areas, you’ve gotta continue to work on all areas to get better.”
Father’s advice
Thompson is well aware of what he needs to focus on as he tries to progress. When Scott isn’t schooling him, his father, who won back-to-back NBA titles with Scott and the Los Angeles Lakers in the late 1980s, is giving him advice. The elder Thompson is now a radio analyst for the Lakers.
“It’s your dad, so you don’t really want to hear it,” Thompson said. “But then you realize what he did, where he’s coming from, so you have to listen.”
Thompson said he talks hoops with his father every day. Those lectures are expected to continue, no matter where Thompson’s basketball journey takes him.
PA announcer update
Cavs public address announcer Olivier Sedra was released from the Cleveland Clinic Saturday night and is resting at home. His status for the Cavs’ home game Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers will be updated Wednesday morning. Sedra was wheeled away from the locker-room area on a stretcher about an hour before tip-off Saturday and taken to the Cleveland Clinic for undisclosed medical reasons. Carl Manteau was his substitute.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at http://browns.ohio.com. Follow the Browns on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/browns.abj.
