Cavs assign recovering Isaiah Thomas to G League

Isaiah Thomas' return to the NBA is on the horizon, as the Cleveland Cavaliers announced Thursday that they've assigned the recovering point guard to their G League affiliate, the Canton Charge.

Thomas is expected to participate in the Charge's full-team practice Thursday, but is not expected to play in a game for the G League side as he continues to recover from a torn labrum in his hip.

He has yet to appear for the Cavaliers this season, though a report Sunday - which Thomas later mocked - suggested the 28-year-old was planning to return in the first week of January.

Cleveland also assigned center Ante Zizic to Canton.