Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland underwent surgery to repair the injury to his left big toe, which forced him out of four playoff games this spring. The team expects Garland to make a full recovery and resume basketball activities by the start of training camp, but his status remains uncertain.
The Cavs are set to begin training camp in late September, which is less than four months away from the start of the 2025-26 season. Given the short timeline, it’s likely that Garland will miss preseason and regular-season games. A league source predicts that Garland could miss up to 10 regular-season games.
Garland’s injury status puts pressure on the team to re-sign backup point guard Ty Jerome, who is a free agent. The Cavs’ massive payroll makes signing Jerome exorbitantly expensive due to luxury taxes. If the Cavs lose Jerome to free agency, Craig Porter Jr. could become their opening-night point guard.
Garland struggled with his toe injury during the playoffs, averaging just 14 points and shooting 34% from the field and 17% from three-point range after returning to the court. The team’s strategy of listing Garland as “questionable” on the injury report was likely meant to keep opponents guessing about their playoff strategy.
The Cavs’ fate in the NBA Finals is also uncertain, as they trail the Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0. Garland’s surgery and potential absence from the playoffs have added complexity to the team’s situation.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6414247/2025/06/09/cavaliers-darius-garland-surgery-big-toe-injury