New Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas will begin working with doctors and the team’s training staff on Tuesday, according to Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Thomas, whose lingering hip injury held up his trade from the Celtics for more than a week, says he is “fully committed” to playing for the Cavs this season. Several sources told Vardon that the team will take Thomas’ return to the court slowly, but he is expected to return to an All-Star level at some point.
Dr. James Rosneck, a hip specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, will oversee Thomas’ rehab work with help from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Parker, who serves as the Cavaliers’ lead doctor. The team plans to gauge how Thomas responds after a week and then a month of the process before creating a timetable for his return. He suffered a partially torn labrum in his right hip in a March game, then aggravated the injury in the Eastern Conference Finals.
There’s more today out of Cleveland:
- A source with experience in similar hip problems suggests Thomas may not be able to play until January or possibly after the All-Star break, relays Jason Lloyd of the Athletic. Lloyd notes that the injury hasn’t healed enough for Thomas to begin running.
- Jae Crowder plays the same position as LeBron James, but the Cavs don’t view him as a backup, Vardon adds in the same story. Coach Tyronn Lue is developing lineups with James and Crowder on the court together, assuming the new addition remains in Cleveland. Crowder’s versatility, combined with team-friendly salaries of $6.8MM, $7.3MM and $7.8MM over the next three years, could make him a valuable piece in a future trade.
- Free agent addition Jose Calderon started working out in Cleveland more than a week ago, Vardon notes. The 36-year-old could be facing an increased role as the primary backup to Derrick Rose if Thomas is out for several months.
- It didn’t take long for the Cavs to get calls about the Nets’ unprotected first-rounder for next year, Vardon shares in the same piece. With its own pick as another possible trade chip and several second-rounders and trade exceptions available, the Cavaliers’ front office believes the team is in good position to deal for another title chase or for a rebuild if James leaves in free agency next summer.
Thomas is short.
You must be a scientist or something.
He won’t be the same after the injury
I beg to differ. He’ll still be short.
Lmao
He also dropped 29 on us in the 4th quarter in that one game, part of the 52 he had that beat us. He is short. His heart makes him tall
That 52 was purely because of Ol
That 52 was purely because of Olynyks elite screen setting
He’s still short.
No Olynyk is tall
Dummy Dilbert got impatient and got damaged goods. The real GM would not have done this trade, but DD doesn’t respect the talent of GMs. DD is happy with one title and will return to the dumpster fire!
The trade looks good vs GSW. But the playoffs will be tougher
I’m not a fan of Gilbert, but the consensus is that this was a great trade for Cleveland. Not sure what more you could ask for SD
It is good to prepare a James/Crowder forward combo but I hope Gilbert is not thinking that Love was improved upon.