CLEVELAND, Ohio — When building a championship contender, the most difficult roster decisions often extend beyond the box score.
On the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, host Ethan Sands and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins explored a fascinating hypothetical that could face the Cavaliers in the coming years: choosing between Max Strus’s locker room leadership and DeAndre Hunter’s on-court talent.
“If the Cavs have to decide between Max Strus and De’Andre Hunter in the coming years... would the Cavs lean towards Max because of what he brings to the locker room?” Sands posed, framing a question that goes to the heart of modern team-building philosophy.
While conventional wisdom might suggest Hunter’s superior individual skillset would make him the clear choice, Watkins highlighted why the decision is far more nuanced for a franchise increasingly focused on culture.
“When you pose the De’Andre Hunter-Max Strus side-by-side, the intangible category is a huge part of that,” Watkins explained.
This perspective becomes especially relevant considering the Cavaliers already sacrificed two respected locker room presences in George Niang and Caris LeVert to acquire Hunter.
“You do have to be careful how many veteran voices you’re willing to sacrifice on this team because at some point Donovan’s going to be looking around and saying, ‘who else am I talking to?’” Watkins cautioned, highlighting the potential consequences of prioritizing raw talent over leadership.
The conversation illuminates the hidden value proposition of players like Strus, whose impact extends well beyond statistical production. Coming from Miami’s renowned “Heat Culture,” Strus brings championship experience and a relentless work ethic that resonates throughout the organization.
Particularly intriguing is how new head coach Kenny Atkinson’s system preferences might influence such a decision.
As Watkins noted, “Max Strus fits what Kenny Atkinson wants to do better than De’Andre Hunter does. Point blank period.”
This schematic alignment adds another layer to the talent-versus-fit equation.
The podcast draws attention to specific examples of Strus’ leadership, including a playoff text message telling teammates, “If you don’t believe, then don’t show up for work.” Such moments of accountability from someone other than the team’s superstar create a culture of shared responsibility.
“When you make hard decisions, culture is a huge part of it, and schematic fit is a huge part of it,” Watkins emphasized. “All Kenny Atkinson fricking talks about is culture. That matters to me in a conversation like this.”
The discussion serves as a compelling reminder that championship teams are built on more than talent accumulation.
As the Cavaliers continue their evolution from rebuilding team to legitimate contender, these culture-versus-talent decisions will likely define their ceiling.
For the complete breakdown of this fascinating hypothetical and more insights into the Cavaliers’ locker room dynamics, check out the full episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast with Ethan Sands and Jimmy Watkins.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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