With the way the Cleveland Cavaliers have stumbled out of the gate this season, they will need all hands on deck soon of they want to keep pace with a surprisingly improved Eastern Conference. They have been linked to available big men Jahlil Okafor and Greg Monroe as their frontcourt rotation is starting to wear thin with Tristan Thompson sidelined for an extended period of time.
However, the Cavs could also be getting some help internally quicker than previously anticipated. Star point guard Isaiah Thomas, who was sent over as part of the Kyrie Irving deal, has been battling through a major right hip issue.
First expected to be out until at least January, Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck reports that there’s a ‘growing sense’ that Thomas will make his return in mid-December instead:
There’s a growing sense around the team that Thomas might be ready by mid-December, beating the team’s initial projection of a January 1 return. That alone will infuse the Cavs with a renewed optimism, or at minimum, some clarity.
Getting their starting point guard in Isaiah Thomas back a month in advance would be a much-needed boost for a Cavs team looking for any sort of positive news.
With a .500 record of 7-7 and no real identity, Cleveland has frequently been bailed out by herculean performances from LeBron James, a problematic trend that has to change soon if they hope to preserve the 32 year old for the postseason. Getting an explosive scorer like Isaiah Thomas back in the fold would immensely relieve the offensive pressure currently being shouldered by James.
That being said, Thomas’ earliest return still sits a month away meaning the Cavs still have to figure out how to right the ship without him. Thomas put up 28.9 points per game and averaged a shade under 6 assists en route to an MVP-caliber campaign for the Boston Celtics last season.
