ATLANTA -- Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he hopes J.R. Smith is back playing in the "next 10 days to two weeks."

Smith hasn't played since he fractured his right thumb Dec. 20 in Milwaukee. He's back traveling with the team for the first time since the injury and is working out daily on the court.

Smith underwent surgery to repair the fracture Dec. 23, and it was announced then that the starting shooting guard would miss 12 to 14 weeks.

As it stands, he is 10 weeks removed from surgery. So you might say he is slightly ahead of schedule, depending on when it is that he actually returns to the lineup.

"They're saying he's been looking better and better every day, he had a good workout yesterday, so hopefully we get him back soon," Lue said.

During the Cavs-Hawks game, Smith told an ESPN sideline reporter that he tried to get the Cavs to let him play Friday, so stay tuned.

Smith would be just one of several accomplished, decorated veterans Lue has to incorporate (or re-introduce) to his rotation over the coming weeks. Deron Williams arrived Wednesday. Andrew Bogut's first game is Monday. Smith and Kevin Love (knee surgery) are due back this month.

"I don't know how I'm going to use all of these people I got yet," Lue said. "I got three new players coming back. Got J.R., who we haven't seen in a long time, got Kevin, and now we've got Bogut. And now we're trying to implement D-Will right now. So it's going to be a process but it's a great process to have when we've got great players that now we have a roster of 12 guys that should be playing.

"That's always a good thing to happen."