Max Strus (center) — joined by Donovan Mitchell (left) and Darius Garland — is coming off a breakout season with the Heat.
Key additions
- G Max Strus (trade), F Georges Niang (free agent), G Emoni Bates (draft)
Key subtractions
- F Cedi Osman
Last season
The Cavs edged their way into the upper class for the first time since LeBron James left by getting a smashing debut from Donovan Mitchell. The ex-Utah Jazz guard (28.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists) was everything the Cavs hoped for and more by coming up big in tense moments and carrying the club at times. His presence, leadership and star power was vastly needed for a Cavs team that, until he arrived, was young and developing.
He was a solid compliment for Darius Garland (21.6 ppg, 7.8 apg), and although there were times when Garland deserved more shots, the Cavs had the best backcourt on the floor on many nights. Others chipped in, mainly Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen, who gave the Cavs a pair of defensive-minded bigs, and Caris Levert. Cleveland stayed patient with former first-round pick Isaac Okoro, whose growth remained slow, but for the most part the Cavs brought decent depth from him and others on the way to 51 wins.
Summer summary
What a basketball blizzard it has been for Strus over the last few years. He was undrafted, then cut by the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, and initially struggled in Miami before signing a minimal contract. Then, a lightning bolt hit. He became a discovery in 2022, assumed a starting position for a team that reached the 2023 NBA Finals and leveraged that into financial security: four years, $63 million via a sign-and-trade with Miami.
That’s a nice payday for a player who doesn’t have a long track record as a solid performer, but the Cavs believe he will instantly be a fixture in the top of the rotation and help elevate them in the standings. Strus brings 3-point shooting (career 37.1%) that can be streaky at times, but when he’s in rhythm, he demands respect from the defense.
Cavs all day on NBA TV #TeamDay | @cavs pic.twitter.com/MFI7nzG78j
— NBA TV (@NBATV) September 7, 2023
Long distance shooting was a priority for GM Koby Altman, because he also jumped at the chance to sign Niang, who prospered in that role with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022-23 (career 40.3%). Suddenly, the Cavs welcomed a pair of floor-spacers to surround Mitchell, hoping this was the missing element the Cavs needed to bring an edge against the best in the East. (Niang was also a former teammate of Mitchell’s when both were in Utah.)
Altman also extended Levert at a reasonable two years and $32 million, giving the Cavs good depth on the wings and balance on a front line featuring Mobley and Allen. It’s also a signal for Okoro to accelerate his development if he wants an extension.
Without a first-round pick — the Cavs sacrificed it in a 2022 trade with Indiana to get Levert — the Cavs took a flier in the second round with Bates, a polarizing player who’s either a sleeper or destined for the NBA G League, depending on whose scouting reports you trust.
Bates has had a rocky road to the NBA, bouncing between colleges and struggling to fulfill the steep expectations he created in high school a few years ago. The downside: He’s built like spaghetti, lacks a sharp dribble and has questionable shot selection. The upside: His talent is evident when he isn’t playing recklessly. There was certainly nothing to lose for the Cavs to spend a second-round pick on him. Bates looked decent in NBA Summer League — for whatever that’s worth — and he’ll have a chance to make the roster and get groomed for the future.
So while there weren’t any major moves this summer, the Cavs didn’t require any. Their top-end rotation remains intact and there’s no reason to sweat Mitchell until his contract expires in a few years. The plan was to plug some holes and add an extra layer of depth to a team that’s top-five or six in the East, and this was accomplished.
Up next: Philadelphia 76ers | Previously: Indiana Pacers
> 30 teams in 30 days: Complete schedule
* * *
Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on Twitter.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
