The Cavaliers are in wait-and-see mode, and Max Strus has become part of the LeBron James equation.
Cleveland is still sorting through what James might do in free agency, and Strus’ expiring $16,660,836 salary has naturally landed in the middle of that conversation. If the Cavs need his contract to make the money work for James, then Strus could be the piece that gets moved. If they don’t, the case for keeping him is strong.
That’s because Strus, 30, still has a lot to offer when he’s on the floor. His 2025-26 season was wrecked by injuries, as he missed 70 games after sitting out 32 in 2024-25, but he was productive when available. He gave Cleveland real bench value and dependable play, even if the missed time made his season feel incomplete.
The injury that slowed him down was a surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. Once he returned, he looked healthy and gave the Cavaliers something they don’t always have in abundance: a wing who can shoot, defend and hold up in playoff settings.
That matters for a roster built around guards and bigs. Strus fits a need, and he checks boxes Cleveland can’t assume someone else will fill. He’s a knockdown shooter, he brings quality defense and he has a track record of strong playoff performances.
Brian Windhorst of ESPN pointed to Strus as a possible signal of movement on the James front, saying, "If you see the Cavs move Max Strus, you will know that there's some sort of action there," - @WindhorstESPN on potential hints of a LeBron decision nearing 👀 pic.twitter.com/YJxRbyjekq
- ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 8, 2026
Still, Cleveland may have more reason to be patient than to rush. Jaylon Tyson could eventually make Strus more expendable, but that hasn’t happened yet.
And if the Cavs do decide to shop Strus later, the timing could actually work in their favor. His expiring deal would still carry value in February, especially for teams trying to save money or chase draft picks, and contenders often pay more than market price for a useful gamble.
So the logic is pretty simple: if moving Strus is the price of bringing James back to Cleveland, that’s one thing. But if the Cavaliers can sign James without touching Strus, they should keep him around and give him a chance to bounce back after an injury-hit 2025-26 season.
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