Tristan Thompson has to participate in full contact practice before returning

The Cavs are getting healthier overall with Kevin Love back, albeit on a minutes restriction. However, it doesn’t seem like Tristan Thompson will be back in the immediate future.

At his media availability on Monday before the Cavs played the Trial Blazers, head coach Larry Drew updated Thompson’s status, saying that Thompson has not yet participated in a full-contract practice and has to go through one before he can play.

Thompson has missed the last 15 games due to foot soreness. Earlier this season, he missed 10 games with a knee injury. Overall, Thompson has appeared in 35 games — all starts — and has averaged 11.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game.

The main reason it would be good to get Thompson back would be to see how he looks and what pairings the Cavs can use with him, Love, Larry Nance Jr. and Ante Zizic that actually work. Plus, it would give some insight into how the Cavs view the quartet — all of whom, plus John Henson, are under contract for next season.

That being said, it probably isn’t worth it to rush Thompson back considering how many minutes he’s already played in his career and the lack of a need to him to come back and help with a playoff push.