Cavaliers Starting Forward Max Strus to Miss at Least 6 Weeks with Ankle Sprain

CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without starting forward Max Strus for at least the next six weeks after he suffered an ankle sprain during Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.

Strus, who signed a four-year, $63 million contract with the Cavaliers this offseason, was injured in the second quarter of Monday’s game when he landed awkwardly after a dunk attempt. He immediately grabbed his left ankle and was unable to put any weight on it. He was helped off the court and did not return.

The Cavs announced the extent of Strus’ injury on Tuesday, saying he will be reevaluated in six weeks.

“It’s a tough blow for us,” said Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “Max has been playing so well and is such an important part of our team. We wish him the best in his recovery.”

Strus was averaging 18.3 points per game for the Cavaliers this season. He has been a key part of the Cavs’ offense, especially with Darius Garland out with a back injury.

The Cavaliers are already thin at the guard position without Garland. Now, they’ll have to figure out how to fill the void left by Strus. They could turn to Isaac Okoro or Caris LeVert to start in Strus’ place. They could also look to make a trade to acquire another guard.

Either way, the Cavs are going to have to rely on depth and versatility to navigate the next six weeks without Strus.

Strus is a big part of the Cavs’ offense and his presence will be sorely missed. He is a versatile player who can shoot, handle the ball and play defense.

Strus’ absence will put more pressure on other players, but the Cavs are a deep team and they should be able to adjust.

The Cavaliers have a talented roster and they are a contender in the Eastern Conference.

However, they will have to overcome some challenges in Strus’ absence.

Here are some things to consider about Strus’ absence:

• The Cavaliers will miss Strus’ scoring, especially his ability to shoot the ball from beyond the arc.
• The Cavs will also miss his defensive versatility. He is able to guard multiple positions.
• The Cavaliers will have to rely on their depth to fill Strus’ void. Isaac Okoro and Caris LeVert could see an increase in minutes.
• The Cavs will have to make adjustments on both ends of the court without Strus.
• They will need to find a way to create more scoring opportunities.
• They will need to be more mindful of their defensive rotations.

The Cavs have a talented roster and they are capable of overcoming this challenge. However, it will not be easy. The team is going to have to adjust and learn to play without one of their most important players.

Strus is expected to be out for at least six weeks, but there is always a chance that he could return sooner than that. It is possible that he could make a quicker recovery, but the Cavs will have to proceed with caution.

It’s worth noting that the Cavs could be a trade deadline contender. Their depth at guard means that they don’t necessarily have to rush to make a trade now, though their recent play has been promising and they should be in contention for a playoff spot. However, they may want to monitor Strus’ progress in the next few weeks and make a decision about their next moves.