Garland has been dealing with a great toe injury.
The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that Darius Garland underwent successful surgery to repair a great toe injury that had limited his mobility in the NBA Playoffs. Garland’s recovery is expected to last 4-5 months.
Garland is on track to return by the start of training camp or shortly thereafter.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 9, 2025
Garland first injured his toe near the end of the regular season. He then reaggravated it in Game 2 of Cleveland’s first-round series against the Miami Heat. Garland missed the following four games before returning on the road in Indiana for Game 3.
It was clear right away that Garland wouldn’t be very effective. He was hobbling up the floor and unable to change directions with any precision. The Cavs lost in five games to the Pacers. Garland averaged just 14 points on 13-38 shooting from the floor.
This injury update might change a few things for the summer. ESPN’s Shams Charania provided an update that Garland may miss the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. Garland has been in trade rumors since the playoffs ended. Now, he’s a 25-year-old All-Star who is coming off another major surgery.
Garland is likely to miss time to start the 2025-26 season, sources said. He was first diagnosed with the injury on March 23 in Utah and managed it to end the regular season before reaggravating and playing through the toe in the playoffs. https://t.co/KBMHubrXjR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 9, 2025
Garland’s injuries aren’t anything that would give you long-term concern. The broken jaw from last year and a toe injury this summer are much different from recurring ankle injuries or ligament tears. There’s no reason to think Garland will have the course of his career changed by this.
Nonetheless, Garland’s value on the market this summer could take a hit. Trading Garland was already going to be a tall order for the Cavs. Now? It might not even be worth considering. Only time will tell.