DETROIT -- Isaiah Thomas ran from one end of the court to the other Sunday at Detroit's Cass Tech High, taking full strides before catching, shooting a 3, and repeating.

Back and forth Thomas went, moving faster than Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue had ever seen since the team traded for him over the summer.

Thomas was even on the court for some five-on-zero work with the Cavs during their team practice Sunday, though Lue said neither Thomas nor any other player could do much because the floor was slippery.

The Cavs are going to start Jose Calderon at point guard on Monday against the Detroit Pistons because three others who play the position -- Thomas, Derrick Rose, and Iman Shumpert -- are out.

The scene, then, of Thomas out there running full court, shooting in transition, and walking through sets with teammates was striking, given that he's a two-time All-Star and All-NBA point guards and the Cavs have a dearth of able bodies at the position.

But the organization continues to slow play Thomas' return from the torn labrum and other injuries suffered to his right hip last season. Though virtually everyone involved allows for the possibility that Thomas will return of the team's original Jan. 1 target date, there has been no formal update on his status.

And Thomas said he truly appreciates the Cavs' approach to his rehab that's kept him out to this point.

"I'm protecting myself, so, even if they wanted me to hurry back, I'm not going to hurry back, just because I've got a long career ahead of me and an important summer as well," Thomas told cleveland.com. "So, I've got to make sure I'm 100 percent healthy before I step out on the floor. But these guys have not rushed me one bit. They've taken their time with me and I appreciate that. Because most teams, they want you out there, especially if things aren't going well."

Thomas said the workout he completed Sunday was the "hardest I've run" during his recovery, and it "felt good for the most part." He said the next step in the process would be cutting and changing direction, and team sources say Thomas has completed each stage of rehab with no setbacks or pauses or side effects.

Thomas is seen daily working with Cavs' physical therapist George Sibel, who stretches and massages him and manages his training.

The Cavs, meanwhile, have won four straight and five out of the last six games. They have the NBA's fourth-best offense (108.4 points per 100 possessions).

But, obviously, injuries have been a concern at point guard for this team, and it was not long ago when the Cavs lost four straight and five out of six. Thomas' old team, the Celtics, have won 15 straight and lead the East.

The ideal situation for the Cavs is that Thomas returns soon, albeit at 100 percent of his capacity, so the team has as much time as necessary to develop chemistry heading into the playoffs.

A dynamic scorer who was third in the NBA with 28.9 points per game a year ago, Thomas will be paired with LeBron James with the hope of achieving similar results to what James and Kyrie Irving did to the league for three seasons.

But the Cavs have insisted Thomas take as much time as he needs. From a personal perspective, Thomas, 28, is a free agent at season's end and has long said he'll be seeking a huge contract on the open market.

He first made those comments when he was busy being the Boston Celtics' best player, angling for a max contract from them. But Thomas missed most of the Eastern finals against the Cavs because of his injured hip, and then he was traded here along with Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic, and two draft picks for Irving.

The trade angered him and disappointed him. It's another reason why the Cavs' deliberate approach to his rehab has endeared the organization to Thomas.

"Yeah because, I mean, it's hard to trust organizations," Thomas said. "They got their own agenda and you got your own. But here it's like, since Day 1, if it takes until June, you're not getting out there. From the first doctor I met, to the training staff to the coaching staff.

"Even with this little rut we've been in, it's been like take your time. Don't worry about this. We'll be alright. That gives you a lot of confidence going forward, knowing that nobody's here to rush you."