All-Star guard Isaiah Thomas told ESPN that he has made significant progress with his injured hip toward a return in the 2017-18 season and has a message for NBA teams doubting his long-term prognosis.
"I am not damaged," Thomas told ESPN on Tuesday. "I'll be back, and I'll be the same player."
Thomas, a second-team All-NBA player for the Boston Celtics, was included in a trade to Cleveland for Kyrie Irving Aug. 22, but uncertainty surrounding his anticipated return to the court has stalled the finalizing of the deal.
Cleveland and Boston officials started to engage each other on a solution on Tuesday, league sources told ESPN.