Cavs’ Max Strus To Make Season Debut Friday vs. Wizards?

December 10, 2024

The Cavaliers are flying high with an NBA-best 21-4 record, and here’s the kicker — they’ve done it without one of their presumed starters. That could change soon.

Max Strus, sidelined since before the season tipped off, is reportedly on track to make his debut Friday against Washington, per Grant Afseth of RG.org. For the record, Hoops Wire sources have said it could be a little after that, but that Friday is indeed in play.

Strus, who’s been nursing a right ankle sprain, initially hurt his hip during the preseason and was close to returning before tweaking the ankle during an individual workout. Tough timing, but the Cavs are eager to welcome back a player who was a key piece of their playoff run last year.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson didn’t mince words about the impact of Strus’ return.

“It’s like we signed a starting player to our team,” Atkinson said of Strus’ impending return. “And now we’re going to have to figure out what that integration looks like, what the progression is… It’s a discussion with our performance team (about) what the minute build-up is going to look like.”

Now, Strus isn’t likely just jump into his old starting small forward spot. He will almost definitely be under a minutes restriction and come off the bench at first.

Fair enough, considering Cleveland’s depth has been a strength. Isaac Okoro (14 starts) and Dean Wade (nine starts) have filled in admirably, but Strus’ return changes the dynamic entirely.

In his first year with Cleveland, Strus delivered a solid 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, shooting 35% from deep after signing a four-year, $62 million deal. The Cavs are buzzing to see how he fits into Atkinson’s fast-paced system — a potential game-changer for an already dominant squad.

So, what happens when everyone’s healthy? Okoro and Wade will likely bolster a second unit that’s shaping up to be as deep as anyone in the league.

For now, the Cavs are proving they can win big under less-than-ideal circumstances. With Strus back, things could go from great to downright scary for the rest of the East.