NBA: 15 players looking to shed injury-prone label in 2017-18

15. Isaiah Thomas

Now that the Kyrie Irving trade is official, the Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot riding on Isaiah Thomas‘ health in 2017-18. To name a few: The team’s 2018 championship hopes, the fate of LeBron James‘ free agency decision, the need for avoiding “Derrick Rose, starting point guard” being a thing, IT’s own free agency prospects and the rebuilding course of the franchise.

So yeah, no pressure.

Entering the season with a hip injury that could keep him out for the first few weeks or until the All-Star break depending on who you ask, Thomas was the centerpiece of the Kyrie trade in terms of established talent. IT is Kyrie’s direct replacement, and if he’s healthy, the 28.9 points and 5.9 assists per game he averaged last year keep Cleveland’s (faint) title hopes intact.

If he’s hurt, however, LeBron has to carry the load, likely falls short against that Golden State Warriors juggernaut and decides to bolt. That may happen with a healthy IT too, since his defensive issues will be exploited over and over in a Finals series, but even if Thomas has never exactly been “injury-prone,” he has to crack this list because of how much is riding on his return.