Cavs, Heat Have Talked Three-Team Trade Involving Max Strus

The Cavaliers and Heat have discussed a potential three-team sign-and-trade that would land guard/forward Max Strus in Cleveland, per Barry Jackson and Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald.

The report did not indicate what other team may also be involved.

Strus, 27, has also been linked to the Pacers, Magic and Pistons — with Indiana supposedly contemplating an offer of three years and $48 million. But others may be able to match that, per Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

The Cavs are aiming to upgrade their perimeter shooting and Stein identified them as a legitimate suitor for Strus. They reportedly have also targeted several other swings ahead of free agency.

“I was advised Thursday night A) to brace for Strus landing somewhere other than Indiana — such as Cleveland — because he has multiple suitors willing to spend in that range to get him and B) not to be surprised if the Heat’s ever-sharp management team finds a way to assemble a sign-and-trade deal headlined by Strus to ensure that Miami comes away with at least a trade exception as it loses a key rotation player from the Cinderella No. 8 seed that made it all the way to the NBA Finals,” Stein wrote.

Strus averaged 11.5 points on 41 percent shooting in 80 games last season, hitting 35 percent of his 3-point attempts. But Miami is expected to bring back free agent guard Gabe Vincent over Strus.

The Cavs have the full Non-Taxpayer MLE of $12.4 million at their disposal — so should have the cap space to re-sign small forward Caris LeVert and bring in a few others either via trade or free agency, or both.