Cleveland Cavaliers wing Max Strus has yet to play this season after suffering a Jones Fracture in his foot during off-season workouts in August. The team hasn’t provided many updates on his injury since. According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Strus could be returning sooner rather than later.
“The word I’m hearing on Max is that he’s weeks away, not months away,” Windhorst said on Wednesday during a radio hit for ESPN Cleveland. “Max is apparently, from what I am told, dying to get back out onto the court. And would play tomorrow if they would let him, and is pushing to play faster than the timeline that I thought. When I heard he was having a Jones Fracture, I was thinking All-Star break [as a time to return].”
The Cavs could certainly use Strus. They miss his well-rounded skillset. This team could use additional players who could run pick-and-rolls and are active off-ball shooters.
More than that, they need someone who plays with the fire and edge that Strus does. The Cavs have been outworked in many of their recent losses, prompting Jaylon Tyson to call them out earlier this week. Strus would certainly help in that department.
Strus has been a starter throughout his tenure in Cleveland. It seems like the team went into this season with the idea of De’Andre Hunter as the full-time small forward. How that would work out once Strus returns remains to be seen.
Last season, Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game on .442/.386/.824 shooting splits.