CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs will be without one of their starters for a large portion of the 2025-26 season.

Small forward Max Strus underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a Jones Fracture in his left foot — an injury to the fifth metatarsal suffered during a recent offseason workout. 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.

Strus is expected to resume basketball activities in approximately three to four months while also needing an extended ramp-up window before he is cleared to make his season debut.

Following a 64-win regular season and second-round playoff exit, the retooled Cavs were set to enter this season as one of the Eastern Conference favorites, with Strus playing an important role.

A prolific outside shooter, Strus averaged 9.4 points on 44.2% from the field and 38.6% from 3-point range in 50 games last year.

Wanting to build on that campaign and use the conference semifinals ouster as fuel, Strus was part of the Cavaliers contingent that participated in voluntary player-led workouts in Los Angeles a few weeks ago. Shortly after returning to Cleveland, he hosted his inaugural Cleveland youth basketball camp through the Max Strus Family Foundation at Cleveland Clinic Courts, excitedly discussing the team’s outlook.

“It seems like everybody’s pretty locked in on making themselves better,” Strus said on Aug. 16. “Then when we finally got together as a team, it seems like everybody’s locked in and wants bigger and better things.

“A championship is still on the horizon for us, and that’s where we all have our mindset.”

Strus’ early-season absence will be a significant blow to that.

He has started 107 games, including all 21 in the playoffs, since signing a four-year contract with the Cavaliers in the summer of 2023. Despite the midseason acquisition of versatile swingman De’Andre Hunter, the 29-year-old Strus was likely going to be the Opening Night starter at small forward once again, with Atkinson repeatedly raving about his stylistic fit alongside the celebrated Core Four — Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.

The Cavs are planning to hold their annual media day at the end of September. Then comes training camp. The opener will be Oct. 22 in New York against the rival Knicks.

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