Cleveland Cavs Forward Max Strus Shares Tendencies of Ex-Miami Heat Teammates

The Miami Warmth’s first-round collection towards the Cleveland Cavaliers will characteristic former spark plug Max Strus lining up towards them at small ahead within the Japanese Convention’s high seed’s beginning 5.

Strus, who left Miami within the 2023 offseason after securing a four-year, $63 million payday that the Warmth facilitated in a sign-and-trade, performed a outstanding function within the Warmth’s NBA Finals run. He now rounds out a lineup that includes 4 gamers which have made All-Star appearances and can play a outstanding function for the Cavs all postseason, however one in every of his largest contributions towards to open his new staff’s playoff run has been made even earlier than the ball is tipped to open Sport 1.

“He was most vocal in film today and added three or four tidbits, a couple of strategic points on their style of play,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson mentioned of Strus’ contributions throughout a movie session approaching Sunday’s Sport 1. “He knows the personnel. Gave a couple of things the coaches didn’t bring up.”

Strus began 41 consecutive playoff video games for the Warmth over a two-year stretch and have become a fan favourite, however hasn’t been shy about sharing the tendencies of former teammates turned rivals. An Instagram publish delivered again in July of ’23 thanked the Warmth “for taking a chance on me when nobody else would,” however that hasn’t stopped him from eager to take his former staff aside these playoffs.

The 29-year-old undrafted DePaul product was tight with Jimmy Butler and have become a outstanding “Heat Culture” man throughout his 4 seasons in South Florida, going from coaching camp invitee to fixture on an Japanese Convention champion. He brings toughness and expertise to a Cavs squad that could be a No. 1 seed for simply the fourth time of their historical past and the primary time since LeBron James helped cause them to their solely championship in 2015-16.

“Try to play your best game every single night,” Strus told reporters of his approach and advice to teammates. “There’s going to be ups and downs throughout the playoffs but you can’t get carried away. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low, just stay even-keeled through it all and just win.”

Regardless of struggling within the NBA Finals loss to the Denver Nuggets, capturing simply 23 p.c, Strus was coveted all through the league and wasn’t going to get the payday he desired from a Miami, which had greater monetary selections to make. 

The deal that landed him in Cleveland netted a second-round draft decide through the L.A. Lakers for Miami and included forwards Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens heading to the San  Antonio Spurs. Strus averaged 12.2 factors, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists final season, however his scoring common dipped (9.5) in a postseason that ended by the hands of the Boston Celtics in a 4-1 Japanese Convention semifinal loss.

Strus performed simply 50 video games this previous season as a consequence of accidents, however shot 38.6 from 3-point vary and shall be an asset towards Miami because of his capacity to unfold the ground, IQ, hustle and positional measurement. His familiarity with the Warmth roster is already getting used to Cleveland’s benefit.

Tony Mejia is a contributor to Miami Warmth On SI. He may be reached at [email protected]