The Cavaliers will begin the season without Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who has been diagnosed with a lower back stress reaction, the team announced.
An MRI at Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine confirmed the injury. Tomlin will be reevaluated in approximately three to four weeks, with no timetable established for his return to basketball activities.
The forward missed all three of Cleveland’s preseason games. The Cavs open Wednesday in Philadelphia against LeBron James and the Sixers.
Tomlin worked his way into the organization after going undrafted in 2024, joining the Cavs for Summer League before spending time with the Cleveland Charge. He earned a 10-day contract in February 2025, followed by a two-way deal the next month.
Cleveland converted that agreement to a two-year, $3 million fully guaranteed standard contract in February 2026.
The reevaluation window puts Tomlin’s next medical update in November. It does not necessarily mean he’ll be cleared to play at that point.
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