The Cavaliers suffer a major blow! Max Strus undergoes surgery for a Jones fracture in his left foot, expected to miss 3-4 months

On August 27th Beijing time, the Cavaliers confirmed that wing Max Strus underwent surgery to fix a Jones fracture in his left foot. This injury happened during training in the offseason.

The Cavaliers revealed that Strus is anticipated to return to basketball-related activities in approximately 3 to 4 months. This indicates he will be absent for the early part of the regular season, which kicks off in under two months.

This injury undoubtedly represents a significant setback for both the Cavaliers and Strus himself. In his second season with Cleveland, Strus averaged 25.5 minutes per game, contributing 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists. He is one of the team’s most dependable three-point shooters, averaging 5.9 attempts per game last season with a 38.6% shooting percentage, and he served as the starting small forward toward the end of the season.

However, the Cavaliers have sufficient wing depth to manage without Strus for the first half of the season. De’Andre Hunter is the primary candidate to fill the starting role, while Sam Merrill may take on a bigger role off the bench. Additionally, veteran forward Dean Wade and second-year wing Jalen Duren are expected to contribute as reserves.

A Jones fracture refers to a break in the fifth metatarsal bone, which connects the little toe to the heel. In recent years, several NBA players, including Zach LaVine (2024), Derrick Whitehead (2023), and Ryan Rollins (2023), have suffered similar injuries.

The Cavaliers’ estimate of “3 to 4 months before returning to basketball activities” is just a projection, so Strus’s actual time away could be longer. At this point, it appears likely that Strus won’t be back on the court until 2026.The latest reports indicate that the Cavaliers have initiated contact with Malik Beasley .