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The Cavs have received offers for swingman De’Andre Hunter — last year’s deadline prize who is in the midst of one of the worst statistical seasons of his career and keeps trying to adapt to a midseason role change. There remains strong interest in free-agent-to-be Dean Wade. Opposing teams have also been wondering if Cleveland has any appetite for breaking up the Core 4 — Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. To this point, Cavs decision-makers have made it clear they aren’t interested in a drastic shake-up. They still think highly of this group and see a pathway back to the top of the wide-open Eastern Conference. They also want to evaluate this roster closer to full strength, believing their prospective rotation — with Garland getting closer to returning from a minor toe injury, the emergence of second-year forward Jaylon Tyson and Max Strus’ eventual comeback from offseason foot surgery — stacks up with anyone in the East.
Marc J. Spears: Cavaliers say Max Strus recently underwent evaluation and imaging on his left foot following offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture. Additional time is required for the fracture to fully heal. Strus lis scheduled for a follow-up evaluation within the next four weeks.
Small forward Max Strus, who has been sidelined the last four months following offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture (fifth metatarsal) in his left foot, has not yet started practicing with the team and remains without a firm timetable for a return. “The timeline is what it is,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “There’s no earlier or later.”
On the same podcast, Fedor identified De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus, Lonzo Ball and Dean Wade as a handful of players on mid-sized salaries who could potentially be traded in the coming weeks if Cleveland’s front office decides against a more drastic overhaul. The issue, Fedor continued, is that Strus has yet to play a game as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery, and Hunter, Ball and Wade are all struggling in 2025/26. Fedor pointed out that Ball ($10MM team option for ’26/27) and Wade ($6MM expiring contract) could be easier to move than Hunter and Strus, as the latter two make more money and have guaranteed deals next season.
ESPN Cleveland: "The word I'm hearing on Max is that he's weeks away, not months away," - @WindhorstESPN on Max Strus' return to the Cavs 👀
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Chris Fedor: Along with the expected #Cavs who were already out tonight here in Indiana — Larry Nance Jr., Max Strus, Jarrett Allen and Sam Merrill — the team will also be without Darius Garland (toe injury management) and Lonzo Ball (illness).
“With 15-0 you always are going to say, ‘We’re going to learn. We’re going to learn.’ But are you if you’re going out there winning by 20, winning by 25, sitting in the fourth quarter…?” Mitchell said. “I think now we’re having to gut some wins out, having to have tough losses, seeing different coverages, seeing teams guard you differently, and this is all without DG [Garland] and Max [Strus]. So, when we get them back, continue to take those steps. “Obviously, you want to go 15-0, right. But for myself and for us as a team I’m OK here because this is showing us so many different lessons within the first 15, 16 games.”
Ethan Sands: The #Cavs have listed Jarrett Allen (finger), Darius Garland (toe), De’Andre Hunter (rest), Sam Merrill (hand), Craig Porter Jr. (hamstring) and Max Strus (foot) as OUT for Monday night’s second leg of the back-to-back in Toronto. Dean Wade (knee) is questionable. #LetEmKnow #NBASky
Strus, meanwhile, suffered a Jones fracture during an offseason workout, saying he went to jump and "it just cracked," an injury he called "unfortunate." But Strus, who said he's five weeks out from the surgery, was walking around -- albeit slowly -- without a boot on his foot. And while he's still out for at least a couple more months, he's hoping for another good report from his doctors when he has his six-week checkup next week. "I'm in a good spot right now," Strus said, "and everything seems to be healing."
Danny Cunningham: Altman: "[Max Strus] is going to miss a few months." Added that Strus will be in Sarasota with the team still, despite not being able to participate.
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THE STARTING SMALL FORWARD … will be De’Andre Hunter, unless there is a change of plans. Max Strus is out for several months after foot surgery. The Cavs already were looking at Hunter as a starter before the injury to Strus. I was told Hunter “looked great” in the summer workouts. Hunter was hampered by a thumb injury in the Indiana series. But I also heard he was dealing with some other lesser injuries. He’s healthy now.
Michael Scotto: Update: The Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves have recently touched base on Malik Beasley, along with the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told @hoopshype . It’s worth noting Cavs guard Max Strus expects to miss 3-4 months after Jones fracture foot surgery
LeBron wants to be on a contender, he wants to play meaningful games — and meaningful playoff games — and be in the heart of the conversation. Additionally, LeBron has consistently sought to maximize his revenue. LeBron opted and will get paid. That means if he asks for a trade, his new team would have to match LeBron’s salary. For example, a lot of fans tried to link him to a return to Cleveland (league sources told NBC Sports the Cavaliers are not that interested, but let’s use them as a hypothetical): With a third team, a deal can be made if it’s LeBron for Darius Garland and Max Strus Why would the Cavs do that, giving up young players and getting 15 years older (and arguably worse) in the short term to rent LeBron for a year or two. And trading LeBron to Cleveland is a lot less complicated than most other destinations.
