Nae’Qwan Tomlin won’t see action this season start, the Cavaliers announced after diagnosing a lower‑back stress reaction. Can Cleveland afford to lose another wing?
Tomlin sat out the whole preseason and still hasn’t gotten practice clearance, as noted earlier. Even if cleared after three weeks, he’ll miss at least the first 11 games, and the timeline suggests his layoff could stretch further.
Turning 26 in December, Tomlin logged 64 appearances last season, averaging 5.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in 15.7 minutes. His bench production earned a jump from a two‑way deal to a guaranteed two‑year minimum, signed in February.
When he finally returns, he may still sit outside Kenny Atkinson’s regular rotation, with Sam Merrill, Mario Hezonja and Jaylon Tyson slated as the primary wing options. In my view, Tomlin’s depth will be sorely missed as the Cavs field only 14 standard contracts, including injured big man Khalifa Diop.