Darius Garland’s offseason surgery has changed the Cavaliers’ plans before a single preseason drill. The All Star guard had left big toe surgery in June after the injury limited him during the playoffs, and Cleveland’s medical staff set a four to five month recovery timeline with a cautious approach to ramping him back up. Garland admitted the injury affected him badly last season and said “I definitely wasn’t myself,” a blunt assessment that underlines why the Cavs are not rushing his return to the floor.

Garland’s timeline and progress matter because the Cavs still aim to protect a core that finished atop the East in 2024 25, and his recovery affects rotations now. Alongside Mitchell, he has formed one of the most lethal one-two punches in the NBA, and the Cavs undoubtedly look to him once again as they attempt to actually compete next year. Garland also told reporters he is improving step by step and he added “I’m ramping up every week.” However, it seems as if Mitchell and the rest of the Cavaliers are not taking anything for granted, and have already prepared contingencies if Garland ends up not returning in October/November, as the current timeline dictates.

Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com reported what he’s hearing about the Cavs and the early lineup looks, and he noted Donovan Mitchell ran a three day minicamp in New York that brought most of the group together. Pluto said he was told “the vast majority” of players were at the session. With Garland working his way back the Cavs have looked at lineups that put Mitchell at point guard and Sam Merrill in a larger role at shooting guard while keeping the big three across the front line intact. This was only one of the adjustments the team tried out in the absence of the Cavaliers coaching staff, as coaches are not allowed to hold full team training sessions before training camp begins.

With Max Strus also sidelined for months after foot surgery, De’Andre Hunter tried out at small forward alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen in a tall, mobile frontcourt, while Sam Merrill was expected to fill in at shooting guard with Garland out. The Cavs, determined to improve their conditioning after being worn down in last season’s playoff loss to Indiana, plan to push endurance harder under coach Kenny Atkinson. Lonzo Ball looked sharp and healthy in during the sessions, showing chemistry with Mitchell, while young players like Craig Porter Jr., Jaylon Tyson, and Nae’Qwan Tomlin were all tried out in different roles as Cleveland prepare to start the season with a limited roster.

Max Strus recently underwent surgery for a Jones fracture in late August and the Cavs expect him to miss three to four months. That absence makes Sam Merrill’s bump to starter plausible on more than one front. Merrill shot 38.8 percent from three in the last two seasons.

All of this points to an early season that will test Cleveland’s depth and coaching adjustments. The Cavs want Garland healthy for deep playoff runs, so patience is their chosen path now. Keeping that in mind, Sam Merril’s recent rise to relevance in Cleveland also comes at an opportune moment, as he appears sit to be the Garland’s straightforward replacement for the time being.

Merrill’s moment: from bench to starter

Sam Merrill’s move into the starting five would be one of the clearest tactical shifts the Cavs can make without trading or signing a new player. Stat lines from 2024 25 show the contrast. Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists while shooting efficiently from deep and inside, a primary creator who logged 30.7 minutes per game. Merrill’s bench numbers were quieter at 7.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in nineteen point seven minutes, but his specialty is spacing and making open shots at high efficiency.

That can make him a potent weapon alongside Mitchell leading the line. However, there is no doubt that without Garland’s secondary scoring threat, the Cavaliers do have a shortage of players who can bring in the points. Merrill shot at just over 40% from the field last season and will need a stark improvement to actually make an impact in this role. However, digging deeper, the potential becomes obvious.

Cleveland’s commitment to Merrill is visible in his four year, $38 Million contract signed in June. Advanced metrics back that faith. Merrill posted a 58.3% True Shooting number last season and carried an offensive rating among the team leaders when he was in rhythm. His usage rate sits low which preserves team flow, and his turnover rate is better than many bench creators. Of course, Merrill started just four games last season and the averages will only improve if and when he gets increased minutes.

Further, Merrill’s on court fit looks natural next to Mitchell and a ramping up Garland because he is a catch and shoot specialist. His 137 three pointers in 2024 25 season speak for itself. The traits free Mitchell and other ball handlers to attack and create, while Merrill’s spacing opens up driving lanes and cutting opportunities. He already showed flashes when pressed into starts last postseason, hitting threes and keeping the offense moving without increasing turnovers.

Defensive and long term questions remain, because replacing a high usage All Star with a role player changes how minutes get distributed and how second units are built. De’Andre Hunter has been penciled in at small forward in some plans which helps preserve bench scoring punch, and Lonzo Ball or other ball handlers could be asked to shoulder more creation off the bench. For now the organization looks comfortable betting on Merrill’s shooting and professional temperament to steady the starting five while injured players recover.