The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without sharpshooting wing Max Strus for an extended stretch, as the veteran has undergone foot surgery that is expected to sideline him for roughly another month. It is a significant setback for a Cleveland team that leans heavily on his spacing, movement, and defensive versatility on the perimeter.

Strus’ value to the Cavaliers goes beyond his three-point shooting. His constant off-ball activity bends defenses, opens driving lanes for the team’s guards, and provides structure to half-court sets that can otherwise bog down. Without him, Cleveland loses one of its primary floor spacers and a key connector in its offensive flow.

From a rotation standpoint, this absence forces head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to reshuffle minutes on the wing. Depth pieces will be asked to shoulder larger roles, and the Cavs may need to lean more on smaller lineups or dual-big configurations that can compromise spacing. The margin for error tightens, particularly against elite Eastern Conference opponents who can load up on Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland without worrying as much about kick-out threats.

League-wide, Strus’ injury underscores how fragile the ecosystem is for teams built around star guards and rim-running bigs. Floor spacers of his archetype have become indispensable in the modern NBA, where offensive success is often dictated by how well a team can surround its primary creators with reliable shooting and disciplined team defense. Losing that ingredient, even temporarily, can recalibrate a team’s ceiling.

The Cavaliers will be cautious with Strus’ recovery, knowing that rushing a foot injury can invite long-term complications. In the short term, this period becomes a test of Cleveland’s depth, adaptability, and schematic creativity. In the long term, how they navigate this stretch could shape their playoff positioning and reveal whether their supporting cast can sustain winning habits when a key starter is unavailable.