The Cleveland Cavaliers may not have said it out loud, but they just told us everything we need to know about Max Strus’ injury situation-and they did it with a trade.
Late Saturday night, Cleveland sent De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for veteran point guard Dennis Schroder and young wing Keon Ellis. On the surface, it’s a move that adds depth and versatility. But dig a little deeper, and it reads like a clear signal: the Cavs aren’t counting on Strus to be back this season.
Strus has been sidelined since August with a Jones fracture in his foot-a break in the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot. It’s one of those injuries that sounds minor until you realize how essential that part of the foot is for everything a basketball player does: cutting, jumping, planting, pushing off. It’s a brutal injury to recover from, especially for a player like Strus, who relies so much on movement, spacing, and defensive agility.
When Strus underwent surgery in late August, the initial recovery timeline was 3-4 months. That put his potential return somewhere between late November and early January.
But here we are, calendar flipped to February, and not only has he not suited up, there’s been no real indication that he’s close. The last update earlier in January suggested he’d need at least another month.
That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for a quick return.
So while the Cavs haven’t officially ruled Strus out for the year, this trade speaks volumes. Cleveland went out and found a player whose skill set echoes what Strus brings to the table: Keon Ellis.
A solid perimeter defender, capable of chasing guards around screens, contesting shots, and holding his own on the wing. He’s not the offensive shooter Strus is-few are-but he fits the defensive mold the Cavs have been missing since Strus went down.
Let’s not forget, Cleveland also dealt Isaac Okoro and hasn’t gotten reliable minutes from Lonzo Ball. That left a hole on the perimeter, particularly when it came to defending the point of attack.
Hunter was brought in to help fill that void, offering positional flexibility at either forward spot. But with the emergence of second-year forward Jaylon Tyson, Hunter became more expendable than expected.
Still, that didn’t solve the issue on the wing-especially with Strus out indefinitely.
Enter Ellis, and to make the deal work, Schroder. Taking on Schroder’s long-term contract feels more like the price of doing business than a sign of shifting plans at point guard.
Darius Garland is still the guy, and this move wasn’t about replacing him. It was about Ellis.
Other teams had interest in Hunter, but Cleveland zeroed in on Ellis as the return they wanted. That’s telling.
Ellis brings what Cleveland needs right now: a wing who can defend guards, fight through screens, and take pressure off Garland and Donovan Mitchell on the defensive end. That was Strus’ role.
And if Strus were healthy? This deal probably doesn’t happen.
Between Strus, Sam Merrill, and Tyson, the Cavs would have had a functional, if not dynamic, wing rotation.
But the Cavs aren’t operating under the assumption that Strus will be back. They’re acting like a team that knows it can’t afford to wait and hope. Playoff windows don’t stay open forever, and with Mitchell playing at an All-NBA level, Cleveland is clearly trying to maximize this season’s potential.
Ideally, Strus returns in time for the postseason and gives the Cavs another shooter and defender on the wing. That would be a huge boost.
But that’s a hope, not a plan. The plan now includes Keon Ellis.
Cleveland didn’t make a formal announcement about Strus. They didn’t have to. Their roster moves said it all.