Cavs preview: Team gets proven shooter, leader in Max Strus

Once free agency started last July, the Cavaliers were on the phone to Max Strus' agent. After Strus found out that returning to the Miami Heat wasn't going to happen, the first call he made was to former Cavs forward Kevin Love. He had spent the last few months in Miami after being bought out of his contract in Cleveland. Love had every reason to badmouth the Cavs after the way he was let go. However, that wasn't the case. "He couldn't have been more positive about the city of Cleveland and the organization," Strus said. "Kevin should get a big nod for that. He told me it's a no-brainer. He told me, 'Max, you're everything they need. You're a great fit. The guys are great. The organization is great.' Kevin talked highly of (the Cavs) and he has never steered me wrong once. I'm very appreciative of Kevin Love." Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman worked out the details of a sign-and-trade with the Heat. The Cavs sent Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens and a future second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs and a future second-round pick to Miami. Strus was signed to a four-year, $63 million deal July 6. Cleveland also agreed to a three-year, $26 million contract with forward Georges Niang. The Cavs are hoping the two additions will make their offense more dynamic with their 3-point shooting. Strus, a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder, is expected to start at small forward. "Everybody talks about the shooting," Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "That's an obvious piece. He's not a guy you leave in the corner. (He's not) a standstill, spot shooter. He's a guy who can be disruptive because teams have to chase him. He plays at a speed that forces teams to make decisions quickly. "He's also the type of person we value here. Everyone knows about the person that had to earn everything (and) earn his way to a starting position on an NBA Finals team. That's not easy to do. It shows the type of character he has and his ability to handle disappointment and adversity and not put his head between his legs. (He's had) to fight and figure it out. We talk about people here first and talent second. I think we hit a home run with the type of person we got here." Strus, 27, played two seasons at Division II Lewis University before joining DePaul where he earned second-team All-Big East honors as a senior. However, his name wasn't called in the draft and he signed a two-way contract with the Boston Celtics, who later waived him in October 2019. The Chicago Bulls signed him to a two-way deal in October 2020. Strus appeared in two games with the Bulls in 2020-21. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Miami in November 2020, which was later converted to a two-way contract. Strus got his big break when the Heat signed him to a two-year, $3.5 million deal in August 2021 — the first multi-year contract of his career. He definitely found a home in South Beach. Strus spent three years with the Heat and ended up starting 41 playoff games in the last two seasons when Miami barged its way into the NBA Finals. The Heat lost to Denver in the finals. A few weeks earlier, the Cavs were embarrassed in the first round by the New York Knicks, 4-games-to-1. By adding shooters Strus and Niang, it should open up more room to operate for star guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. With Strus on the floor, teams won't be able to leave him alone in the corner like they did with Isaac Okoro. In those instances, defensive players would leave Okoro and double team players like Mitchell. Strus, a superbly tuned athlete, never stops moving on the court. "You can run him off of screens and people have to chase him," Bickerstaff said. "He runs at such a speed, it's not just one guy who has to keep an eye on him. The big guy has to be involved. The game is about shooting and making shots. It makes us that much more dangerous. "If you're saying Max is here solely for his 3-point shooting, you're doing him a disservice. Max is a really good basketball player. He puts pressure on (defenses). He'll drive and finish over the top of people. He's able to make the next play. Max is a very heady basketball player. Defensively, he does have toughness. He takes on challenges. He doesn't back down from anybody. He's extremely intelligent as a team defender. He picks up things quickly." Strus and Niang bring a competitive edge and a toughness to the team, Bickerstaff said. "They bring a dynamic that we were missing a little bit," he said. "(They bring) that toughness; that grit. They have a chip (on their shoulder). That's on top of the shooting dynamic." One has to wonder how a player who averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists, all career highs, last season was going to make such a big impact on the Cavs. They believe he will be a perfect fit to their playoff hopes in a number of areas. Shooting and spacing are two of his biggest strengths, as is his leadership qualities. "(I can) share my experiences of what I gained in Miami," Strus said. "I can bring that here and help this young team, I was very excited for the opportunity. "The sky is the limit for us. We're just as talented as any team in the NBA and no one should count us out about winning a championship." Cavs coaches put the team through conditioning drills early in camp. Players marveled at Strus, who ran eight or nine more laps than anyone else on the team. "It was something Miami instilled in me and something I learned while I was there," he said. "I've always been about being in the best shape as possible and being the hardest working player in the room. That's how I got where I am. Just because I got a big contract and make more money, that doesn't mean anything to me. "This is who I am and this is how I work. So, get used to it." Mitchell, a second-team All-NBA performer last year, is excited to add a player of Strus' caliber. "Max is a guy who has done it at the highest level for three seasons," he said. "He brings that championship identity over here with us. "He's a knock-down shooter at the highest level. He has that standard for himself. He also brings that Heat culture. I haven't been where he's been. As much of the shooting that he brings to the table, it's the leadership, without having to say much. It's the understanding of the game that will really help us." Altman sat down with Strus after he was signed and informed him how important his leadership is to the young Cavs. "The leadership part is huge," Strus said. "Koby brought me in and said, 'You're going to have the most playoff experience on our team.' To me, it's only Year 5 and to have that in my back pocket is huge. I've learned so much in my young career. I can provide great leadership in that regard, and I will. I'm going to take that very personally." Niang, who also has extensive playoff experience, said Strus is the perfect fit for the Cavs. "Look at him, he's tough," Niang said. "He makes shots. He defends. He makes threes. He has playoff experience. You can't ever count that stuff out. "What we need is guys who are going to take and make open shots that are tough, gritty and fit the culture and the mold of this city and this organization. Max definitely fits that." Contact Bob Finnan at (440) 329-7135 or rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.