INDEPENDENCE, Ohio - New Cavaliers guard Isaiah Thomas answered questions Monday at Cavs media day, and said that his injured hip is improving every day. Earlier Monday, the Cavs announced that Thomas could join the Cavs by January.

Here are some highlights of his comments:

* On how he's doing: "Physically I'm in a good place. I'm making progress every day. I'm getting stronger. These last three weeks, I've been able to be with this training staff six days a week and focused on getting my strength back in that muscle.

"Since the end of May I haven't done anything, so the focus now is getting the inflammation out of my hip and getting it back to where it was. Each day is better than the previous day. . . I"m able to get on the court and move around a little bit.

"I'm happy right now because I've had to sit down the whole summer. Being able to be around the training staff has been great for me."

* On last week's 'minicamp' in California: "Last week was great. I know most of these guys from a competitive standpoint and playing against them, but I never really built a relationship with anyone other than Kevin Love, who I knew when I was younger . . .

"Last week, it was all jokes and all fun, but they know when they get on the court how serious it is. It's going to be a really great year for us. The anticipation of playing not just with LeBron but everybody on this team.

"(In Boston) I've been the guy who's had to do most of the work, and I'm excited to give them something they didn't have, and to be a part of something I"ve never been a part of: a championship-caliber team. It's been real genuine love since I've been here."

* On being able to eventually earn a max contract: "I think what I've done has solidified who I am as a player. . . What's most important is me getting healthy and being 100 percent . . .When I got traded to the Cavs they were like, 'Slow down. We want to make sure this is right.'

". . . My mindset is to get healthy and get 100 percent, and then when it comes to basketball, I know what I can bring. I don't think there's any more proving. . . Being able to compete for a championship is going to allow me to be a max player."

* On whether his hip had been injured before: "I've had no problems before, let's say, March 13. I never had one problem with my hip. I know there was never a problem brought up."

* On how he spent his down time this summer: "From a mental standpoint, it's been tough. I've always been able to get in the gym. This summer has been new to mere where I just had to sit down.

". . . Being traded to the Cavaliers has helped me realize what's important, and that's being 100 percent healthy. I wasn't discouraged because I know who I am. I've been injured before, but not to this extent. . . Now, I'm as positive as I can be . I know I can play at an MVP-caliber level.

"This is the first time in my life where I had to sit down. I'm one of those guys who always fought through injuries. . . This was the first time where I couldn't. I couldn't do it, and it wasn't best for my future.

"But it made me a better player, mentally. I was able to watch a lot of film. I had so much time on my hands that I was able to get better mentally. I can't wait to get on the court because I know something special will happen."

* On what Jae Crowder will bring to the Cavs: "He's a guy that's not going to back down from anything . . . We're kind of cut from the same cloth. The people in Cleveland are going to love him, because he brings his hard hat each and every day. He's a great person and one of my close friends."