The Cleveland Cavaliers have spent little time asserting their presence in this year’s free agency market. General Manager Koby Altman orchestrated a series of moves, culminating in a major acquisition on Saturday morning.
In a three-team sign-and-trade deal involving the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs, the Cavaliers secured the services of free agent forward Max Strus, solidifying their pursuit of a skilled small forward.
The trade details are as follows:
Cleveland Cavaliers: Max Strus (signed a lucrative four-year, $63 million contract)
Miami Heat: Second-round pick
San Antonio Spurs: Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, and a second-round pick
Recognizing the need for a sharpshooting small forward, the Cavaliers prioritized it this offseason. Strus, known for his floor spacing and long-distance shooting ability, will significantly boost the team’s roster.
Having been in the NBA since the 2019-20 season, Strus boasts an impressive 37 percent career three-point shooting average. During his tenure with the Miami Heat last season, he scored 11.5 points per game and shot 35 percent from behind the arc.
In addition to his shooting prowess, Strus brings valuable playoff experience to the Cavaliers, aligning with their win-now mentality alongside star player Donovan Mitchell. He played a pivotal role in the Heat’s 2023 Finals run. However, Strus struggled during the postseason, averaging 9.3 points and shooting 32 percent from three-point range across 23 games.
While the Cavaliers bid farewell to key role players Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens in this trade, the recent signing of Georges Niang will help maintain their depth at the forward position. This trade serves as a clear signal to fans that Altman and the Cavaliers organization are fully committed to going all-in.
The time to make a mark as a legitimate Eastern Conference Finals contender is now for Cleveland.
