The Cleveland Cavaliers announced that Max Strus will miss three to four months after undergoing successful surgery on his foot. Strus suffered a Jones Fracture in his left foot during an offseason workout.
This isn’t the first time Strus has missed the start of the regular season. He was sidelined until late December of last year when he sprained his ankle in October. The Cavs began the season 15-0 and re-inserted Strus without trouble.
Strus averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds
and 3.2 assists for the Cavaliers last season. He’s become an integral part of the team, proving to be more of a Swiss Army Knife than a three-point specialist. Strus shot 38.6% from deep last year, but his all-around contributions have been more impactful than his jumpshot.
The Cavs will start the 2025-26 season on a weird note. They’ll likely be without Darius Garland, as well as Strus, leaving them without two starters on opening night. This, combined with the loss of Isaac Okoro and Ty Jerome, puts them into unfamiliar territory. They’ll need strong starts from Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley — along with a few role players stepping up.
Everyone’s focus will be on the playoffs, however. The regular season isn’t something anyone is overly concerned about. Cleveland faces only New York and possibly Orlando as threats to the top seed of the conference. Reasonable health would ensure they enter the postseason as a top-two seed.
Considering Strus and Garland are expected to be back by the New Year, this isn’t the worst news. The Cavs should have plenty of time to reintegrate everyone and ramp up for the playoffs.
