Kenny Atkinson will head into the new NBA season with a good idea of what his best rotation will look like. He spent last season figuring out his combinations and rotation patterns, as he came to grips with his Cleveland Cavaliers roster.
After minimal moves this summer, the Cavaliers’ roster is similar to the one that fell short in the 2025 playoffs. Therefore, Atkinson’s tweaks will come via his offensive and defensive systems.
Nevertheless, there’s always room for a player to emerge as a key contributor. And, according to Chris Fedor, speaking via his “Wine and Gold” podcast, Max Strus could potentially be that player in the upcoming season, especially in terms of his role with the starting unit.
“Max was the guy that the Cavs brought in a couple of years ago to bring it all together in their starting lineup, and he has,” Fedor said. “When the five-man lineup of Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley outscores opponents by 12.5 points per 100 possessions in nearly 250 regular-season minutes, you didn’t just say like, okay, let’s change that because it’s broken.”
Strus is one of the best floor spacers in the NBA. He can score off the bounce or off the catch. Furthermore, he’s comfortable when attacking closeouts off the dribble. He will undoubtedly be a key cog in Atkinson’s rotation.
Strus Expects the Cavaliers to Contend For a Title
During his annual basketball camp at Cleveland Clinic Courts, Cavaliers sharpshooter Max Strus noted how the Cavaliers are coming into the new season with one goal: competing for a championship.
“Winning,” Strus said. “Simply put. Getting the guys back together and doing what we do best – putting our best foot forward and making it farther than we did last year. A championship is still on the horizon for us, and that’s where we all have our mindset.”
Strus’s ability to stretch the floor, allowing talented slashers such as Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to exploit the defense, will be a key factor in the team’s chances of success. Of course, everyone else must also buy in and do their part. Otherwise, another postseason disappointment could be on the horizon.
Cavaliers The “Team to Beat” in The East
In a recent article for ESPN, Kevin Pelton shared his belief that Cleveland is the team to beat in the East. He noted the additions of Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. could be enough to put the franchise over the top.
“We’ll see how much the Cavaliers get from Lonzo Ball, limited to 35 games last season by wrist injuries after 2½ years off the court due to his left knee. Ball was a low-cost pickup for Cleveland to help replace Ty Jerome, lost to help manage the Cavaliers’ sizeable tax bill. So too was bringing back Larry Nance Jr. as a third center. Despite the loss of Jerome, Cleveland looks like the favorite to win the East.”
Atkinson’s team has all the necessary pieces to be a title contender in the upcoming season. If they can fix some of their perimeter defense issues, and find ways to get important stops in the halfcourt, they should be more than ready for a deep playoff push next season.
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