The Cleveland Cavaliers finally have a bit of a timeline when it comes to their All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who has yet to play this year. The 28-year-old Thomas recently competed in an intra-squad 4-on-4 drill during team practice this week, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
The Cavaliers are hopeful they will get to see Thomas in action before the calendar year’s end. Head coach Tyronn Lue was encouraged by Thomas’ efforts, noting that he “looked good” while taking some contact in practice.
Following from ESPN,
Thomas, who has not played in an NBA game in nearly seven months after a torn labrum in his right hip ended his season prematurely following Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, is expected to make his debut with Cleveland before the end of the month, according to the team.
Tristan Thompson, who has been out the last month with a leg injury is expected back sometime this week, according to McMenamin. The Cavaliers big man has missed 17 games this season after suffering a calf injury in early November.
Thompson expects to be in back in the rotation sooner rather than later but isn’t interested in rushing the process.
“I’m always ready to play — even when I first got hurt I was always ready to play,” Thompson said on Wednesday. “You’ve got to listen to the medical team, and that’s their job, that’s what they’re here to do, to protect us and make sure when we come out to play we don’t have nothing lingering or having a setback. When they say I’m ready to play and I’m ready to go, then, put back on the wine and gold.”
The Cavaliers are currently on a 13-game winning streak behind the MVP-level play of LeBron James. It will take some time for Thomas and Thompson to get acclimated to the game again, but their return couldn’t have been timed any better.
