The Cleveland Cavaliers are looking to shed more salary to create flexibility to acquire a starting-caliber forward like Peyton Watson or Jonathan Kuminga.

Cleveland shed some salary by sending Dennis Schroder to the Charlotte Hornets for Tre Mann, but they will need to create more room. That could lead the Cavs to move on from sharpshooter Max Strus.

Strus is entering the final year of his contract and will make $16.6 million. The 30-year-old is still a quality player and could be a valuable shooter to a team. However, Cleveland's need for a starting forward should take priority over keeping Strus.

With that in mind, here is a trade that could save Cleveland some money and send Strus away in a three-team deal.

Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Zach Collins

Miami Heat receive: Max Strus

Chicago Bulls receive: Nikola Jovic, a 2029 first-round pick (via Miami), a 2032 second-round pick (via Sacramento), and a 2033 second-round pick (via Cleveland)

In this deal, the Cavs save about $8.2 million while acquiring a backup big in Collins. Collins could be a rotational piece behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. In the 2025-26 season, Collins averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists, shooting 57.8 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep. 

When on the floor, Collins has been a solid player, but he has struggled to stay healthy. However, the reason Cleveland does this deal is to save money to give them a better shot at acquiring Watson or Kuminga.

For the Heat, they reunite with Strus, adding much-needed shooting around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo. In this deal, they trade away their 2029 first-round pick but get off the Nikola Jovic contract, a four-year, $62.4 million deal. 

While Strus may not be worth a first-round pick, he will provide value to their roster and is on an expiring contract, giving them more flexibility to build around Antetokounmpo long-term.

For the Bulls, they are in rebuild mode and acquiring a first-round pick and two second-round picks to take on Jovic's contract while moving a backup big who has struggled to stay healthy gives them more draft capital to use in the future.

The Cavs need to get creative in moving off of Strus, but if they can get a deal like this done, it could help them land Watson or Kuminga.