Claiming he’s not damaged, Isaiah Thomas told ESPN on Tuesday, “I’ll be back, and I’ll be the same player,” which seemingly is enough to assuage the Cavaliers, who are no longer seeking one of the Celtics’ top young players or high draft picks in order to finalize last week’s trade for star guard Kyrie Irving.
ESPN, citing league sources, reported the Cavaliers would be willing to complete the deal by adding a late first-round pick or second-round considerations. ESPN reported that the teams talked Tuesday.
According to ESPN, the deadline for players involved to report and have a physical exam is Wednesday at 10 a.m. and the deadline to pass the physical is Thursday at 10 a.m.
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Thomas took his physical in Cleveland on Friday.
The Celtics traded Thomas, Jae Crowder, rookie Ante Zizic, and the 2018 first-round draft pick they received from the Brooklyn Nets for Irving.
However, Thomas’s hip injury reportedly prompted the Cavaliers to seek further compensation.
“There’s never been an indication that I wouldn’t be back, and there’s never been an indication that this is something messing up my career,” Thomas said in the ESPN interview. “Maybe I am not going to be back as soon this season as everyone wants me to be, but I’m going to be back, and I’m going to be the same player again. No doctor has told me anything different than that.”