The Cleveland Cavaliers bid farewell last week to Max Strus, a veteran leader and community pillar whose grit defined the team’s resilient postseason spirit.
After spending three seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Max Strus is now a member of the Los Angeles Clippers thanks to a five-team trade that landed Peyton Watson with the Wine and Gold.
Max Strus' time with the Cleveland Cavaliers officially came to an end last Friday, as the team officially announced its blockbuster trade with the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, and Washington Wizards was complete. Strus was sent to LA in the transaction, with Watson coming to Cleveland.
Albeit an understandable facelift, concerning both roster construction and the 30-year-old's expiring $16.6 million contract, this is a significant blow to the Cavs. On the court, they're losing a movement shooter, an adept cutting threat, and a ball hawk. Off the court, they're losing a veteran voice with a ton of playoff experience and a fiery competitor.
Strus always gave that extra mile in Cleveland. Whether it was during games with multiple efforts or rehabbing hard from injuries, he defined professionalism and dedication to the sport with the utmost class.
In the latest episode of Courtside with Cavs, Spencer German and I looked back on Strus' three-year stay with the organization and why this past season was a testament to his character and resilience:
I don't think enough people understand how difficult it is to come back from a broken foot that happened two weeks before the preseason, after being hurt the season before that. To have to mentally get through that whole process, come back in March with only a month left to try and get yourself ready for the playoffs, and then be the fifth-leading minute-getter on the team in the postseason, that's not easy to do.
He is just a competitor's competitor and plays with heart. He is everything that you want in a teammate. Donovan Mitchell said it best: He'd go to war with Max Strus any day. That guy's gonna be missed. He's gonna be missed in the locker room; his voice, his impact on the group overall. It's gonna be missed for sure.
Strus also connected with the city of Cleveland on many occasions through the Max Strus Family Foundation, including charity bowling events, youth basketball camps, and more. His work and community embrace will have a lasting impact that extends beyond the court. He'll be joining former Wine and Gold point guard Darius Garland in LA, so at least there will be a familiar face to reconnect with.
In the five-team trade, the Cavs also parted ways with Dennis Schroder, sending him to the Hornets and rerouting Tre Mann to the Wizards. In addition to words of praise for Strus, Cleveland president of basketball operations Koby Altman acknowledged Schroder's contributions as a veteran who brought toughness and grit to the group that got to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018.
