Cavaliers add Max Strus in sign-and-trade deal
Max Strus was a key player for the Heat in their run to the 2023 NBA Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have added former Miami Heat swingman Max Strus via a sign-and-trade deal involving three teams. Per multiple reports, Strus will head to the Cavs on a four-year, $63 million deal as part of a trade that also involves the San Antonio Spurs. The teams officially announced the trade on July 6.
Cavs receive:
- Max Strus
Heat receive:
- 2026 second-round pick (from Lakers, via Cavs)
Spurs receive:
- Cedi Osman (via Cavs)
- Lamar Stevens (via Cavs)
- 2030 second-round pick (via Cavs)
Got our guy. Welcome to The Land, Max! #LetEmKnow | #Ad | @Shift4 pic.twitter.com/audkN6J77u
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) July 6, 2023
Strus, a formerly undrafted player, was a key player for Miami in its run to the 2023 NBA Finals. He averaged a career-best 11.5 points per game and also added 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 35% overall during the regular season.
In the playoffs, his scoring dropped to 9.3 ppg, but he came up with several key scoring performances in the Heat’s series wins against the New York Knicks (in the Eastern Conference semifinals) and the Boston Celtics (in the East Finals).
His reported departure from the Heat comes a day after another standout undrafted player from last season’s team, guard Gabe Vincent, reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. Additionally, injured swingman Victor Oladipo was reportedly dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder for future Draft picks.
Cleveland has been busy in the free agency window, reaching a deal to bring back swingman Caris LeVert while also reportedly adding 3-point marksman Georges Niang, too.
Osman is perhaps the most notable player changing teams in the deal as he has been a key reserve for the Cavs over the past two seasons. He posted 8.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 1.5 apg for the Cavs last season and will be part of the Spurs’ youth movement headlined by No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama.
Stevens saw action in 61 games for the Cavs last season, mostly as a reserve. He averaged 5.3 ppg and 3.3 rpg as well as a career-best 31.6% on 3-pointers.
