Cleveland Cavaliers wing Max Strus underwent surgical procedure on Tuesday to restore a Jones fracture in his left foot, the group introduced. The harm occurred throughout an offseason exercise.
In line with the Cavs, Strus is anticipated to renew basketball actions in roughly three to 4 months. Which means he’ll be sidelined for the beginning of the common season, which is able to tip off in lower than two months.
It’s a troublesome break for the Cavs and for Strus, who averaged 9.4 factors, 4.3 rebounds and three.2 assists in 25.5 minutes per recreation throughout his second yr in Cleveland in 2024-25. He’s one of many group’s most dependable three-point shooters, flattening 38.6% of 5.9 makes an attempt per recreation final season, and completed the yr because the beginning small ahead.
The silver lining for the Cavs is that there needs to be sufficient wing depth on the roster to get by with out Strus in the course of the first half of the season. De’Andre Hunter is the main candidate to maneuver into the beginning lineup, with newly re-signed sharpshooter Sam Merrill possible in line for an elevated position off the bench.
Veteran ahead Dean Wade and second-year wing Jaylon Tyson are among the many different reserves who ought to transfer up on the depth chart this fall.
A Jones fracture is a break within the fifth metatarsal, the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the bottom of the foot. Zach LaVine (2024), Dariq Whitehead (2023) and Ryan Rollins (2023) are among the many NBA gamers who’ve handled comparable accidents in recent times.
The three-to-four-month timeline offered by the Cavs is a projection for when Strus will resume basketball actions, so his absence will possible lengthen past that. However for what it’s price, 4 months from the day of the announcement could be proper round Christmas.
