Nae’Kwan TomlinThe 2026/27 debut will be delayed, according to Cavalierswho announced today that the forward has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his lower back and will be reevaluated in about three to four weeks (Link to Twitter via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com).
Tomlin missed the entire preseason due to illness and has not yet been cleared to practice, as we previously reported this morning. Based on his revised schedule, he will miss at least the first 11 games of Cleveland’s season, even if he is reevaluated in three weeks and cleared to play at that point. In all likelihood, his absence will continue.
Tomlin, who will turn 26 in December, has been a regular off the bench for the Cavaliers in his second NBA season, appearing in 64 games and averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.7 minutes per night in 2025-26. Performance in that backup role earned him a promotion from a two-way contract to the regular roster — he signed a guaranteed two-year, minimum-salary deal in February.
Even if he does return, Tomlin could find himself on the outside looking in Kenny Atkinson‘y ordinary rotation, p Sam Merrill, Mario Hezonhaand Jaylon Tyson He is expected to be the team’s primary wing/forward backup. Still, his absence for the season opener will hurt a Cleveland team that has just 14 players under standard contracts, including one big man Khalifa Diop – who is dealing with a left knee injury and is unlikely to play a role in the NBA when healthy.
