Is Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus close to playing?
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus could make his season debut soon.
According to NBA insider Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Strus is weeks away from playing.
Strus underwent surgery on a Jones fracture in his left foot. The sharpshooter appeared in 50 games for the Cavaliers last season. He averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 44.2% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc and 82.4% from the free-throw line.
In 309 NBA games with the Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat and Cavaliers, Strus is averaging 10.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He's one of the best shooters in the NBA, so Cleveland's offense will become more dynamic once the DePaul product is back in the lineup.
Strus helped the Heat reach the 2023 NBA Finals. Miami lost to the Nuggets in five games.
The Cavaliers have started the season 13-9. They are eighth in the NBA in points per game, 12th in points per game allowed, 10th in offensive rating, 10th in defensive rating and 12th in net rating.
Cleveland had the best record in the Eastern Conference last season. The team was projected to make the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history without NBA legend LeBron James on the roster.
However, the Indiana Pacers beat the Cavaliers in the conference semifinals in five games.
Since the Pacers and Boston Celtics aren't contenders this season, the Cavaliers are under immense pressure to win the East. The "Core 4" of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen must come through in the playoffs this year.
Otherwise, big changes could happen to the roster in the offseason.
Mitchell is putting up MVP numbers this season. He's averaging 30.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game. The New York native is third in the NBA in total points and fifth in points per game.
Along with Strus, the Cavaliers are currently without Allen and Larry Nance Jr.