Cavaliers star misses crucial playing time with serious injury

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without one of their key players at the start of the 2024/25 season.

The Cavaliers will be without their star forward and sharpshooter Max Strus due to a sprained right ankle earlier in the year.

Strus will be out for at least six weeks.

ESPN’s Shams Charania shared the news via Twitter/X.

Strus was already struggling with a hip injury but is now sidelined with ankle problems. He suffered the injury during a practice session on Thursday.

The team announced on Saturday that Strus had undergone an X-ray and MRI scan to confirm the severity of the sprain before setting the six-week schedule for a re-evaluation.

Cavs say Max Strus will be out at least six weeks with a right ankle sprain.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2024

The 28-year-old was expected to be ready for opening night while recovering from his hip injury, but he will now be sidelined until at least early December. In his absence, the Cavaliers will look to rely on Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert and Dean Wade to play more minutes and pick up the slack.

Strus missed two preseason games due to a bruised hip before being unable to participate in the preseason finale against the Chicago Bulls due to an ankle injury. Last season, his first with the Cavs, he played 70 regular season games and 12 playoff games before being eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics.

It’s certainly a blow to the Cavs. Before the incident occurred, Cavs guard Darius Garland discussed how new head coach Kenny Atkinson wanted the starting five, which included Strus, to approach games.

“Kenny is a big three-point attempt guy,” Garland said. “So we try to get as many threes as possible. Try to get out in transition, walk-up threes. He was on top of me and.” [Donovan Mitchell] also about those who are in transition. Even Max [Strus] when it is open.

Strus’ first season in Cleveland was arguably the best of his career. He averaged 12.2 points per game (a career high), 4.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.9 steals while shooting 41.8 percent from the field, 35.1 percent from threes and 6.8 Three-pointers attempted per game.

The Cavaliers will look to take the next step in the 2024-25 season after an impressive previous season.

According to Fan Duel Sportsbook, Cleveland has the 12th-best odds to win the 2025 NBA title, tied with the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers at +4000 odds.

The Cavaliers open their season on Wednesday, October 23rd against the Toronto Raptors.

More news: The Lakers are making major roster changes before the start of the season

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