The Cleveland Cavaliers will have to keep tabs on veteran wing Max Strus going into the 2025-26 NBA season.
Strus has been with the Cavaliers since 2023, leaving the Miami Heat after three seasons. He seeked a starting role as he mostly came off the bench during his Heat stint, providing shooting and playmaking in the second unit.
Strus got what he wanted at Cleveland, getting a starting role as his playing time increased and his opportunities to help win games grew. However, he might be on the sidelines going into his third season with the franchise.
The Cavaliers announced on Tuesday that Strus suffered a significant foot injury during offseason training. The injury required surgery, which he successfully underwent that same day in the state of Indiana. They believe he will be out for the next three to four months, impacting his availability for training camp.
“Cleveland Cavaliers forward Max Strus underwent successful surgery today to repair a Jones Fracture (fifth metatarsal) in his left foot, suffered recently during offseason training. The procedure was performed by Dr. David Porter in consultation with Cavaliers team physician Dr. James Rosneck at Forte Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Indianapolis (IN),” their press release showed.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) August 26, 2025
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What’s Next For Max Strus, Cavaliers
GettyOG Anunoby #8 of the New York Knicks is defended by Max Strus #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first quarter of the game at Madison Square Garden on April 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Max Strus’ surgery makes a direct impact on the Cavaliers’ wing depth. He would be out for the first two months of the 2025-26 NBA season.
Strus has been serviceable in the team’s rotation as a starter. He averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game after 120 appearances throughout two seasons. He shot 42.6% from the field, including 36.4% from beyond the arc, and 80.2% from the free-throw line.
Cleveland benefitted from bringing Strus aboard, making the playoffs in both seasons. He played a supporting role with solid shooting and playmaking, while stars Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland handled the scoring duties.
The Cavaliers are back in playoff form, which hasn’t been the case since LeBron James left in the 2018 offseason. Every season since then has been lottery years and it wasn’t until recently that the team finally gained momentum. They barely missed out on the playoffs via the play-in tournament in 2022.
That compelled them to acquire Mitchell from the Utah Jazz, which quickly elevated them into playoff contention. They returned to that stage in 2023, their first since James left in 2018. They suffered a first-round exit, but that didn’t stop them from improving. The squad made the second round the next two postseasons, showing growth as a contender in the Eastern Conference.
This upcoming season will be important for the Cavaliers. The team had its best regular season in franchise history without James, winning 64 games. That success didn’t translate to a title run, losing in five games to the Indiana Pacers in the East Semis.
The Cavaliers have the talent to make the NBA Finals, especially with Mitchell, Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen highlighting the squad. What will matter for them is that they learn from their past mistakes and take the next step to finally return to the mountaintop they last reached in 2016.
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