This past season, the Cleveland Cavaliers looked like a team on the cusp of reaching another NBA Finals, but a difficult injury ended their latest squad's championship dreams.
All-Star Donovan Mitchell suffered a left ankle injury during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, forcing him to sit out the entire second half.
His team ultimately lost that game and the series to Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers.
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Despite that difficult loss, Mitchell and the Cavaliers seemed destined to have further success in the upcoming NBA season.
However, the team received disappointing news that could cause another setback as they prepare to climb back towards the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
On Tuesday, ESPN's NBA insider Shams Charania revealed news that guard Max Strus will be sidelined for "approximately 3 to 4 months" after surgery.
According to Charania, Strus had surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, with that injury arriving during one of his recent offseason workouts.
The NBA season is still several months away, but four months could mean Strus won't return to play for the team until December.
The 6-foot-5 small forward averaged 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game last season.
He was also a significant contributor throughout the team's playoff run. His averages improved to 11.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.9 assists.
This isn't Strus's first time suffering an offseason injury that kept him sidelined for the start of a season. He missed six weeks at the start of the Cavaliers' last season due to a right ankle sprain, also suffered in offseason workouts.
The Cavaliers are his third NBA team since joining the league as an undrafted player from DePaul in 2019. He previously played for the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat before signing a four-year contract with the Cavaliers in 2023.
With the new NBA season several months away, the team and its fans have high hopes that they'll once again be in the mix for a chance to contend for the NBA Championship, but they will need a healthy roster, including Strus.
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