Revisiting the Max Strus trade
Cavs news and links for Thursday, August 1.
It has been more than a year since the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Max Strus in a sign-and-trade featuring Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens. Looking back, how has this trade held up?
The first sip
Strus was coveted by the Cavaliers for his three-point shooting. A volume marksman who helped Miami rattle off a Cinderella run to the NBA Finals was appealing to a Cleveland team that fell in the first round due (in part) to their lack of perimeter scoring. This move made all too much sense on paper.
The actual results were a bit mixed. Strus brought the volume, attempting nearly 500 three-pointers in his first season with the Cavs. However, his 35% efficiency left more to be desired. Strus occasionally brought the scoring punch that Cleveland needed but those moments were few and far between.
This might sound disappointing. Yet, Strus surprised us all with his ability to be a positive contributor even without his three-point shooting. Strus showed a multifaceted skill set, handling the ball in pick-and-rolls and defending multiple positions despite standing at just 6’5”. His growth was noticeable, posting career-highs in points, rebounds and assists.
Meanwhile, Osman has mostly remained the same. His role has been reduced on a rebuilding team, seemingly hitting his ceiling as a player. He’d be helpful in a vacuum but Osman’s reliability would never have matched that of Strus.
The fit still isn’t as perfect as you’d like. Strus is fighting above his weight class as the starting small forward — when he might be better suited as a backup shooting guard. But that’s mostly an issue with the Cavs' roster construction. Strus has done enough to leave us satisfied with the trade.
The second sip
Jarrett Allen agreed to a three-year, $91 million extension. This is a no-brainer move for a team that has largely molded its identity behind Allen’s defensive presence.
The Cavs have nothing to lose by extending Allen. He’s on a contract that would be easy to trade if they decide to take that route. And if they stay the course, Allen’s deal is reasonable enough to keep around. This extension would have come one way or another — it’s better the Cavs got it done now.
Random Cavalier of the Day - Damyean Dotson
Damyean Dotson played in a season (2020-21) when Cavs fans were desperate to cling to any reason for hope. Dotson did his best to generate that irrational faith as a relatively crafty guard who sporadically had good outings.
His most effective game as a Cavalier came in January, with 21 points and 8 assists in a losing effort against the Milwaukee Bucks. For a time, Dotson looked like he could be a rotational piece. That hope didn’t last long — and few people hold fond memories of the Dotson era of Cavs’ basketball.
If you weren’t a fan when Dotson was running point, don’t be a fan now
— tv watcher (@Boshwack) January 9, 2024
Women’s Olympic Basketball on today
- Japan vs. Germany - 5 AM
- Australia vs Canada - 7:30 AM
- France vs Nigeria - 11:15 AM
- Belgium vs United States - 3 PM on FOX
Cavs links
- An ode to inefficient volume Scorers
- Allen signs $91 million extension
- Dorian Finney-Smith doesn’t move the needle