Cavs’ Max Strus Goes Through Full Practice, Closing In On Season Debut

December 18, 2024

Things are about to pick back up for the Cavaliers after their brief NBA Cup “bye week,” and considerably so.

How do three games in four nights — all at home — sound? Those will come against the Milwaukee Bucks (Friday), Philadelphia 76ers (Saturday), and Utah Jazz (Monday). And as the Cavs head into this stretch, there’s a bit of mystery hanging over the status of Max Strus and Isaac Okoro.

Strus, who has yet to play this season, looks like he’s finally about to make his long-awaited return. After participating in a full practice Wednesday, coach Kenny Atkinson gave a promising update.

“It’s really more feedback from him,” Atkinson told reporters, keeping it cautious but upbeat. “How does he feel tomorrow? Not about what I saw today but how does he react to it? We’re awfully close.”

So it again sounds as if Strus is nearing his season debut. His shooting and cutting are seemingly a perfect fit in the Atkinson offense.

“He looked great,” Atkinson said about what he saw from Strus in practice. “I got to get to know him better, but his cutting, I’m really excited [about that]. … He’s going to be a great cutter in this system which I think will help our offense.”

Okoro’s situation is a little trickier. He injured his right shoulder in Monday’s blowout win over Brooklyn and he missed practice Wednesday. Atkinson said he doesn’t think it will be a “long-term” issue, and for now, Okoro is considered “day-to-day.”

The Cavs (23-4) enter the weekend with the best record in the NBA. After this home stretch, they’ll embark on their first West Coast trip of the season. That includes a game against the Lakers in LA on New Year’s Eve — one day after LeBron James‘ 40th birthday.