The Cavaliers are optimistic that Isaiah Thomas can recover from injuries to his right hip in time for their Christmas game with Golden State, relays Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com.
The two-time All-Star has reportedly made “real progress” in rehab since joining the team in late August. Thomas was part of the package that Cleveland received from Boston in return for Kyrie Irving, and a dispute over Thomas’ medical condition help up the deal for about a week.
Cavaliers officials refused to answer questions about Thomas’ hip in a press conference after the deal was completed and offered no timetable for a possible return. Today’s news is the first indication of when he might be ready to play again.
Thomas suffered a torn labrum during the season and aggravated the injury in the Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to miss the end of the series. It has been reported that he also has a loss of cartilage and some arthritis, which has slowed the recovery process.
Thomas has used a multi-faceted rehab plan to try to get back on the court, Vardon writes. In addition to weightlifting and stretching, he has been running in a pool and on a weightless treadmill and taking stationary shots on the court.
Thomas’ condition affects more than just the Cavaliers’ season. He is hoping for a max contract in free agency next summer after making about $6.3MM this year.
In other news out of Cleveland today:
- Coach Tyronn Lue says free agent addition Derrick Rose will be the starting point guard until Thomas returns, Vardon tweets. The former MVP agreed to a one-year, minimum salary deal with Cleveland in July after spending one year with the Knicks.
- The team has named Bernie Bickerstaff senior advisor of basketball operations, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN (Twitter link).
He should be back for the playoffs, but while he doesn’t have to be the same IT as the mvp candidate of last season, he still needs to be effective for the Cavs to win this trade. Ultimate goal has to be convincing LeBron they’re good enough to continue contending, or you’re gonna end up maxing up IT to be a mediocre team or complete rebuild
If Wade goes to Cleveland, and they want him to start, I wonder if they go with Calderon as the starter, and Rose off the bench, until IT comes back, to get Rose used to the role he’ll be in, and keep better floor balance at the guard spots. I could also see them going without a traditional PG in some lineups
Lue said in the press conference that Rose is starter at PG.
That’s with the current personnel, as I said….
The Cavs are coddling Thomas and I like it.