Report: Cavs' Shumpert targeting mid-December return

Iman Shumpert is seemingly taking the opposite approach to rehab as his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Kyrie Irving.

While Irving has been uber-cautious in his slow-and-steady recovery from knee surgery, Shumpert has been aggressively working his way back from wrist surgery. He's aiming to beat his projected 12-14-week timetable, and is ahead of schedule in his recovery, according to Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com.

"If I could have, I would have played soon as they took the cast off (on Oct. 14)," Shumpert told Haynes. "I think I'm six weeks out. They said 12-14 (weeks), right? If I can make it at 12, I'm trying to make it at 12."

The Cavs acquired the 25-year-old shooting guard in a midseason trade last year and signed him to a four-year, $40-million deal in the offseason. During training camp, he suffered a (deep breath) ruptured extensor carpi ulnaris sheath in his right wrist. Returning to game action at the early end of his timetable would mean being back on the court in mid-December.

Shumpert hopes to make that happen, but says he needs to remind himself not to rush things.

"If I can get there right at 12, I'm trying to get there right at 12, but I'm trying to make sure I take my time."

In 62 games between the Cavs and New York Knicks last season, Shumpert averaged eight points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals.