Cavaliers GM Koby Altman pens a heartfelt farewell for Max Strus after the latest trade

Cavaliers GM Koby Altman pens a heartfelt farewell for Max Strus after the latest trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Max Strus signed a four-year contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023 in a sign-and-trade with the Miami Heat. At the time, it was a fantastic decision for the Cavaliers because they lacked perimeter shooting beyond their backcourt of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.

During the three seasons he played for the Cavaliers, Strus was a positive for the team. He provided good perimeter shooting, and he had the intangibles that helped the Cavaliers succeed. Unfortunately, his time with the team ended in the 2026 offseason, which involved another sign-and-trade.

Strus is now a member of the Los Angeles Clippers roster, where he is reunited with Garland. It is a promising landing spot, especially since they have decided to fully commit to a new direction by dealing Kawhi Leonard away to the Toronto Raptors.

While they still have no resolution with that controversial player, they are making good decisions beyond him. Signing Rui Hachimura, getting Strus, and drafting Keaton Wagler were all good decisions, which makes it a great landing spot for Strus.

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Now that he has left the Cavaliers, it seems he was a favorite within the Cavs organization. Not only did the players like Mitchell show him love, but it seems the GM, Koby Altman, loved having Strus around. That is why he penned a heartfelt goodbye to the sharpshooter.

"We want to recognize and thank Max for everything he has meant to the Cavaliers. Over the past several seasons, Max became an important part of our team, our culture, and our identity... He was an important part of our continued rise and the sustainable success we have worked to build, and we are incredibly grateful for the way he represented the Cavaliers every day," Altman said about Strus after making the trade for Watson.

Altman had the right idea of trading for Peyton Watson, who solves a lot of problems the Cavs had with their small forward woes. Thankfully, he is an athletic wing who will also defend and be a reliable offensive player, something they have needed for a long time ever since they had Isaac Okoro for a long time.

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