In a summer full of blockbuster trades, the one that may affect the NBA championship picture the most is the deal between the Celtics and Cavaliers that was finalized last month and featured Kyrie Irving and Isaiah Thomas as the centerpieces moving from the Cavs to the Celtics and vice versa.
The main complication that delayed the finalization of the mega deal was the mystery surrounding the hip injury suffered by Isaiah Thomas some time late in the 2016-17 season or 2017 NBA Playoffs.
While the timeline is still pretty vague and hard to project for this kind of injury as surgery is not required, Cavaliers doctors believe that Thomas could be ready to play by Christmas Day against the Warriors or at least sometime in January.
Injured Cavs guard Isaiah Thomas expected back on the floor by January, according to the team. He has started on-court activities.
— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) September 25, 2017
Here is Thomas suited up in a Cavaliers uniform for the first time for media day…
Well, this is new. pic.twitter.com/JKBUTsRGlo
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 25, 2017
The Cavaliers will be able to get by in the first half of the regular season with Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade filling the secondary ball handler role in the absence of Kyrie Irving, but if they want to make their fourth straight trip to the NBA Finals and have any chance to match firepower with the Golden State Warriors or whomever survives a crazy western conference, they will need Thomas healthy and playing at 2016-17 season levels.
