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Cavs Don’t Expect Darius Garland To Be Ready For Training Camp

Originally posted on Hoops Wire | By Sam Amico | Last updated Aug 5, 2025 12:58 PM ET

Two-time NBA All-Star Darius Garland says he feels “great” following toe surgery in June, but the Cleveland Cavaliers are not planning on him being ready when training camp opens this fall.

That’s the word from Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, who told Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor that Garland is progressing well but probably will not be full go when the team reconvenes.

“That’s not a medical opinion. That’s just my sense of this,” Atkinson said over the weekend at Garland’s celebrity softball game in Eastlake. “Under-promise and over-deliver. We’re not going to rush or push this. If he is ready, then great. I will rely on (trainer) Steve (Spiro) and Darius to tell me. But I don’t expect that.”

The rehab process is going well, Atkinson added. Garland is focused on strength training while he continues to work his way back. Running will come later.

With Ty Jerome now on the Memphis Grizzlies, the Cavaliers will need to rely on other options at point guard in Garland’s absence. Atkinson said he feels good about the players already in place.

“We have Don (Donovan Mitchell). We have (Lonzo Ball). We have CP (Craig Porter Jr.),” he said. “We are kind of covered. We also have (Evan Mobley), where we can throw it to him in a trail position and have him be a play-maker.”

Atkinson also said Garland’s absence may give the Cavaliers a chance to try new things early and learn more about how the rest of the roster can respond.

“I hate that this injury happened to Darius, but it allows you to start figuring out things for the times he is not available,” Atkinson said. “Last year in the playoffs it just hit us and maybe we weren’t as prepared as we could have been. If we have to play games without him, this will allow us to kind of experiment a little and see if we can find play-making in other places.”

Atkinson also noted that managing player workloads will be a focus across the roster this season. The Cavaliers were hit hard by injuries during the 2025 playoffs, and staying healthy deep into the spring is now a major organizational priority.

“I think that is the plan for the whole roster,” he said. “How do we become a more durable team? We are going into round two (of the playoffs) and we have 14 guys healthy, that’s the goal. We had a plan in place, but I think we have to do better when it comes to figuring that out. It’s a hard part of my job too.”