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The Cavaliers’ chances of making the playoffs look dimmer now that Darius Garland will be out for a long time. Because of the painful injury to his left great toe in the playoffs, Garland was operated on June 9, 2025, and is expected to be out for about four to five months.
Since he is not expected to be ready before September, his absence may influence both the squad’s guard unit and how the Cavaliers operate during the offseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland faces extended recovery after toe surgery
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, who is 25 years old, had successful surgery to fix a left great toe injury that affected his play during the 2025 NBA playoffs. The operation was carried out by Dr. Nicholas Strasser at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, with input from Cavaliers team doctor Dr.
James Rosneck and Dr. Bob Anderson from OrthoCarolina. The Cavaliers shared that Garland should be back to basketball activities by the beginning of training camp in late September.Garland got hurt on March 23, 2025, and even though he dealt with it during the regular season, he ended up missing four playoff games. He came back for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers but had a tough time, averaging only 14 points with a shooting percentage of 34.2% in the last three games.
The front office of the Cavaliers is now dealing with some key decisions about roster building and possible trades. With Garland's recovery timeline still up in the air, the team might need to check out options to enhance the backcourt. Moreover, Garland's injury could sway the Cavaliers' strategy regarding free agent guard Ty Jerome, who recently enjoyed the best season of his NBA career.As the Cavaliers deal with these hurdles, everyone will be keeping an eye on how much Garland's absence affects them.
His leadership and scoring skills played a huge role in the team's success throughout the regular season, and how quickly he recovers will be crucial for the Cavaliers' chances in the next season.Also Read: Jrue Holiday's $32.4M cap hit makes him prime trade candidate for cost-cutting Boston CelticsDarius Garland not being able to play due to surgery is a big disadvantage for the Cleveland Cavaliers as they approach the new season.Even though the team is optimistic about having him during training camp, not knowing for sure leaves the Cavaliers with a challenge during the offseason.In the following months, it will matter a lot how Garland is doing and how the team will move forward while he is absent.