Tristan Thompson nearing return with Cavaliers

The Cavs center should rejoin the lineup by the end of the week.

Slowly but surely, the Cleveland Cavaliers are getting healthier. Tyronn Lue stated after practice today that he expected Tristan Thompson to return later this week, as long as there are no ill-effects from joining in Wednesday’s scrimmage.

Via Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com, Thompson is ready to play, but is waiting for the all-clear from the team’s medical staff”:

"I'll be ready to return when the front office and them say I'm ready to return," Thompson said. "The medical team. I gotta stay in my lane like LaVar Ball said.

Thompson had his franchise-record streak of 447 consecutive regular-season games snapped on April 5. Keep that in mind when considering his answer to this question: Do you feel you're healthy?

"When you play, what, five years straight, you'll never be 100 percent again. That's out the door," Thompson said.

Thompson has dealt with knee tendinitis since the second half of last season. Given how reliant his game is on energy and athleticism, the chance of the issue flaring up again provides some cause for concern.

If the team is able to manage the injury and get him back to the level we’re used to seeing from him, his return should make a major difference for the Cavs. But until we see him at that level, expectations should be tempered.