Isaiah Thomas Gives Optimistic Response When Asked About His Timetable to Return

Ever since the blockbuster trade that sent Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and two future draft picks to the Cleveland Cavaliers in return for Kyrie Irving took place, Thomas has been very honest about the sense of betrayal he felt from the Boston Celtics, and his desire to come back from his injury faster than anyone is anticipating.

On Wednesday, Thomas admitted that his primary goal right now is to beat the Cavs’ timetable for his return from injury.

Sports Illustrated‘s Lee Jenkins wrote about Thomas’ goals following the shocking offseason trade:

“Thomas wants to beat the organization’s timetable, late December or early January, and his wife recently caught him sleeping with a basketball at night.”

For Thomas, the luxury of time to heal is still something he is very grateful for.

“The nice thing about the Cavs is nobody is in a rush,” Thomas said. “Most places are trying to get you back, which isn’t always best for you. These guys know they’re going to play in June. It’s a given.”

What hurt Thomas more than any injury, however, was the way he was treated by the team he loved so much. While he claims to hold nothing against organization, he feels very differently towards Celtics general manager Danny Ainge.

“Boston is going to be all love,” he said. “I might not ever talk to Danny again. That might not happen. I’ll talk to everybody else. But what he did, knowing everything I went through, you don’t do that, bro. That’s not right. I’m not saying eff you. But every team in this situation comes out a year or two later and says, ‘We made a mistake.’ That’s what they’ll say, too.”

Thomas has reason to be upset. He knowingly played through an injury to try and help his team during the 2017 NBA Playoffs.

“No doubt about it, I should have sat out the playoffs,” he said. “No way around it; I made it worse.”

Furthermore, Thomas added that he had been given “no warning” that he was to be involved in the trade for Irving.

Finally, Thomas reiterated his commitment to getting healthy. Not because he needs to prove it to himself, but because he knows he still needs to prove it to everyone who doubts him.

“I just gotta get healthy and show the world again,” Thomas says. “That’s not a question for me. It’s only a question for everybody else.”

While some teams see the playoffs as a goal, the only goal for the Cavaliers is another NBA title. If all goes according to plan, a fully healthy Thomas with a massive chip on his shoulder is going to be instrumental in trying to bring another championship to Cleveland.