Tristan Thompson has been working hard this offseason to secure a starting role with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The early returns in training camp seem to indicate that his hard work is paying off. Thompson has added 15 pounds of muscle to his frame, confirming some of the reason why the Cavs drafted him in the first place.

Cavs head coach Bryan Scott said that Thompson has an edge in the race for a starting spot:

"As of right now, I would have to give him the edge" to start, Scott said. "He worked his butt off and you’ve got to give him credit for that. As a young guy, you hope it manifests itself on the basketball court because then it gives him added confidence knowing that everything he worked on this summer was well worth it."

In addition to working on his body, Thompson has been working on improving his shooting. He shot only 55% from the free throw line last year, and adding a mid-range jump shot to his offensive arsenal would make him a difficult matchup due to his size.