This off-season has been a static one for the Cleveland Cavaliers. So static that they locked up three of their four core players. These include Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Does this mean the starting lineup will be exactly the same? Not necessarily.
There is one spot of the lineup that isn’t entirely locked up, and that’s the small forward. Max Strus played (mostly) very well last season, but could there be someone who could take his starting role?
Here’s a look at who could be the Cavaliers starting small forward, including Strus’s tenure in Cleveland and the other available options.
Strus as a Cavalier
Strus quickly made an impact, as he set a record for most threes made by any player in their debut with a new team. He also split the early part of the season between playing the two, three and four positions due to injuries.
Playing well for most of the season, Strus became a go-to guy in a lot of situations due to his hot hand. He even hit a game winning buzzer beater, the second longest in the three-point era, in fact.
| Strus Career Averages | ||||||
| Team | Seasons Played | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | 3P% |
| Chicago Bulls | 1 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 66.7 | 0.00 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 10.1 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 42.7 | 37.1 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 12.2 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 41.8 | 35.1 |
His biggest issue was his consistency, as he tended to be very streaky. He would either play extremely well, or extremely poorly. Making almost all of his shots, or missing almost all of them.
While his play at his best is certainly that of a starter, it’s the inconsistency that raises concerns about the starting role. But if not Strus, who else could fill the position?
Cleveland’s other options
The Cavaliers actually have a number of options who could be up to the task. Primarily including Isaac Okoro, Caris LeVert and Dean Wade. Each of these players have aspects of their game that would definitely benefit Cleveland.
| Cleveland’s 2023-24 Forwards | ||||
| Player | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% |
| Okoro | 9.4 | 3.0 | 1.9 | 49.0 |
| LeVert | 14.0 | 4.1 | 5.1 | 42.1 |
| Wade | 5.4 | 4.0 | 0.8 | 41.4 |
Okoro is an excellent defender, one of the best in the league in terms of one on one matchups. And his scoring has come a long way, especially from behind the arc.
LeVert is an overall better scorer than Strus, and a considerably more explosive athlete. He also averaged more rebounds and assists with a higher field goal percentage.
Wade is also an outstanding (and extremely underrated) defender. And, like Strus, has a tendency to get a hot shooting hand. But, unfortunately, each of these players also has their detractions.
Okoro, while coming a long way, is still not where Cleveland wanted him to be as a scorer. He also tends to go quiet for games on end, seeming to make his ability to impact the game disappear. Wade is similar, although he may also be the most injury prone player of the three. As for LeVert, he doesn’t play nearly as well when starting. He is absolutely able to be an effective spot start, but, when regularly given the role, fails to stay consistent. He is arguably at his most effective as the designated six-man.
There are also dark horse candidates who could make a suprise run for the starting spot. These include players like Jaylon Tyson, Emoni Bates and Isaiah Mobley. Whoever ends up as the Cavaliers starting small forward, though, could be one of the few changes to this team in re-sign heavy offseason.
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Featured photo courtesy of NBA.com
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