The Cleveland Cavaliers were one of the biggest winners of the last NBA offseason, landing Donovan Mitchell and pairing him with Darius Garland.
But they weren’t as aggressive in the following offseason, although they did make a move that seemed quite necessary.
They signed former Miami Heat guard/forward Max Strus to a reasonable deal, and few people could complain about that.
With that in mind, ESPN Cleveland’s Aaron Goldhammer shared his thoughts on the signing and why he’s on board for the most part, but he still has some concerns.
"Now this was not my choice admittedly, but I appreciate the fact that they identified a problem" – @HammerNation19 on the Max Strus sign and trade.
Did you like the move for the #Cavs? pic.twitter.com/C8xWpOnyYI
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 5, 2023
Goldhammer lauded the Cavaliers for realizing there was a depth issue and addressing it, as J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t have a reliable fifth player on the team, citing that Strus comes with championship-caliber experience and can definitely make some shots.
On the other hand, Goldhammer adds that most role players that look great when they’re with the Miami Heat usually fall from grace when they’re somewhere else, and that’s a valid concern.
Josh Richardson, for example, looked like one of the best defensive guards in the Association when he was in South Beach, and he wasn’t able to find his footing after he left.
Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley won’t play anyone who’s not giving 110% every single day, and Strus might not be as motivated to play as hard now that he’s secured the biggest payday of his career to date.
Even so, he should still be considered an upgrade for their starting lineup, and they only need a couple of tweaks to be a contender for years to come.
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