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Report: Thomas dealing with additional issues aside from hip tear

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

No wonder the Cleveland Cavaliers were so mum when it came to Isaiah Thomas' recovery timeline.

It's already been well publicized that Thomas is dealing with a torn hip dating back to mid-March, but there are apparently additional issues that might further delay his recovery.

Thomas has also battled chronic loss of cartilage and arthritis that may hinder the healing process, a source told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic Cleveland

"No one has any idea how quickly this will heal or if it even will heal at all," the source said. "It’s hard to predict."

Thomas is expected to fill the role of starting point guard for the Cavaliers following Kyrie Irving's departure. Cleveland is overflowing with scorers, but a healthy Thomas should serve as a reliable secondary scorer next to LeBron James.

The Cavaliers have shown in recent seasons that they prioritize playoff success over regular-season achievements, so there's no immediate rush for Thomas to return. Nevertheless, it's awful timing for Thomas who is entering the last year of his contract to only play a portion of the year.

There were already concerns of awarding a maximum contract to a 5-foot-9 point guard at the age of 29, even after his All-NBA campaign in which he averaged 28.9 points. These added concerns about his injury will make it difficult for Thomas to secure the maximum contract he's publicly clamored for on many occasions.

Derrick Rose is expected to start in Thomas' absence, while long-toothed veteran Jose Calderon serves as the backup. James will invariably also control a large portion of the offense.

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