Tristan Thompson is headed for international duty.
According to Chris Haynes of cleveland.com, Thompson will suit up for Team Canada this summer in hopes of helping his country qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
To qualify, Canada will have to win an upcoming qualifying tournament in Manila. The Canadians are in Group A with Turkey and Senegal. France, New Zealand and the Philippines round the the field. The tournament begins on July 5 and wraps up on July 10. If Canada wins and qualifies, they’ll begin play at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on August 6.
Canada reached this point in qualifying by finishing third in last summer’s FIBA America’s Championship last summer in Mexico City. Thompson was not on the roster and chose to sat out to focus on his free agency.
On this team, Thompson should have a pretty big role and it could be a chance for him to shine in a way he can’t in Cleveland. He joins Kyrie Irving, who is playing for Team USA, and Matthew Dellavedova, who likely will play for the Australian National Team, as Cavs playing internationally this summer. LeBron James and Kevin Love are both sitting out the Olympics in order to rest.
The Canadian National Team is coached by Phoenix Suns assistant Jay Triano and the team features other NBA players like Tyler Ennis and Cory Joseph.