An interesting wrinkle in all of the success that the Cleveland Cavaliers have already enjoyed in the 2024-25 regular season is that they’ve accomplished so much without their starting small forward in the lineup. An ankle sprain has prevented Max Strus from making his season debut with the Cavaliers to this point.
Cavaliers insider Chris Fedor was recently asked whether Strus will regain his place in the team’s starting five when he’s at full strength, and Fedor explained the complexity of that question and all the variables that could factor into it.
Firstly, Fedor reminded folks that Strus is still a ways away from returning to the court. A timeline for his return has yet to be decided at this juncture.
“Strus, the expected starting small forward, has been sidelined since the preseason and is still weeks away from a return,” Fedor wrote.
“At the time of his injury — one that happened during an individual workout on Oct. 17 as he was trying to come back from a previous hip issue — the Cavs said Strus would be re-evaluated in around six weeks. That marker is just days away. But the timeline attached to his actual comeback is still being determined.”
Fedor then rattled off the number of factors that could determine what Strus’ role will look like after he has recuperated from his ankle injury. All in all, he didn’t give a definitive answer regarding whether or not Strus will reclaim his spot in the starting lineup.
“Would Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson find it easier to bring him off the bench until the restriction is lifted and Strus can play true starter minutes again?” Fedor wrote. “How is the team performing at that time? How effective is the starting lineup? What opponents are on the schedule? What other players are available? Are any of the three Strus fill-ins — Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade or Sam Merrill — playing well enough to justify remaining in the starting quintet?
“All those factors will play part in what Atkinson ultimately decides. But the Cavs are eager to see what Strus looks like in this up-tempo, 3-point-heavy, pass-happy and movement-based system that suits his playing style. With his shooting, cutting, gravity, playmaking and toughness, he provides a different element than any of the other small forward options. The Cavs need what he brings. It’s why they made him a free agency priority signing two summers ago.”
Strus started 70 of the Cavaliers’ 82 games in the 2023-24 regular season and enjoyed a career year by all accounts. He averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals per contest in his inaugural season as a Cavalier.
He also started every one of Cleveland’s 12 contests in the 2024 NBA Playoffs and averaged 9.5 points per game while shooting 34.7 percent from 3-point range.
Even sans Strus to start this season, the Cavaliers have been one of the NBA’s top 3-point shooting teams. Cleveland leads the league in 3-point percentage right now, as 41.5 percent of its 3s have found the bottom of the net.
The Cavaliers have held down the fort in terms of their 3-point prowess without Strus in the lineup because folks up and down the roster have stepped up their games in that regard. Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Caris LeVert are all shooting above 40 percent from deep, and Ty Jerome is leading the NBA with a 54.4 percent 3-point percentage on 3.2 attempts per contest.
Cavaliers fans should keep their eyes out for updates on Strus’ injury status, as he is projected to be re-evaluated in the near future.
