Cavs Starting Max Strus Over Dean Wade For Game 7
6:44 pm: Cleveland’s starting lineup change is official, per Pistons PR (Twitter link).
6:37 pm: The Cavaliers are expected to make a change to their starting lineup for Sunday’s do-or-die Game 7, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, who reports that Max Strus is “likely” to get the starting nod at small forward over Dean Wade.
Wade, who is known for his defense, has started all six games of the Eastern Conference semifinal matchup vs. Detroit, averaging 3.3 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22.7 minutes per contest. He has only attempted 14 shots in the series, but has made half of those looks (seven).
Strus, meanwhile, has averaged 10.0 PPG and 5.5 RPG while knocking down 38.3% of his three-point attempts through six games in the second-round series (29.2 MPG).
According to Fedor, there are several reasons why head coach Kenny Atkinson is opting to make the change, but offense is the primary factor. The Cavs have struggled to score against Detroit’s stout defense, which ranked second in the league during the regular season.
As Fedor writes, Atkinson has spoken about Strus’ impact throughout the Pistons series, praising his “energy, tenacity and defensive ball pressure.”
Atkinson made a similar change in the first round against Toronto. Wade started the first four games of that series before turning to Strus for Game 5 and 6. Wade was moved back to the starting lineup for Game 7 against the Raptors.
Cavaliers Expected To Re-Sign James Harden To Multiyear Deal
No matter what happens in Sunday night’s Game 7 at Detroit, the Cavaliers plan to re-sign James Harden this summer, sources tell Brian Windhorst of ESPN.
Windhorst suggests an “understanding” that a multiyear contract would be forthcoming was likely in place before Cleveland sent Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round pick to the Clippers in exchange for Harden at the trade deadline. Harden was in position to veto a trade and probably wouldn’t have joined the Cavs without the implicit promise of a new deal.
Windhorst hears that the organization worked to establish a bond with Harden before the trade was finalized, as head coach Kenny Atkinson took steps to make him a partner in the team’s success from the first time they talked. Windhorst points out that Harden has excelled throughout his career when he’s had a strong relationship with his coaches, so Atkinson and his staff have been cultivating that from the start.
Harden holds a $42.3MM player option for next season, but the annual salary in his next contract is expected to be smaller in exchange for more long-term security as he turns 37 this summer. That will provide some financial relief for the Cavaliers, who are carrying the league’s highest payroll at $226MM (more than $280MM with the luxury tax factored in) and are the only team currently operating over the second apron.
Windhorst states that a new deal with Harden will also provide some stability amid the uncertainty surrounding Donovan Mitchell, who has a $53.8MM player option for 2027/28 and will carry the equivalent of an expiring contract next season. Mitchell will become extension-eligible in July and can sign a new deal worth up to $272MM over four years. However, Windhorst notes that he would benefit by waiting until 2027 when he’ll have 10 years of service, which means he can increase his next contract to five years at around $350MM and will be eligible for other benefits, including a no-trade clause.
Waiting to sign his next deal means Mitchell will hit free agency next summer, which Windhorst states could lead to an “uncomfortable” situation, especially if the Cavs fail to advance past the second round again. There could be some hesitation about committing to a new deal that pays him $80MM when he’s 35.
An early playoff exit could affect the roster in other ways, Windhorst adds, as rival teams have expressed interest for years in trading for Jarrett Allen. The 28-year-old center is about to enter a three-year, $90MM extension that will make him significantly more expensive for a team that’s already under financial duress. Windhorst cites moving Max Strus, who’ll have a $16.6MM expiring contract next season, as another option, but notes that trading Allen or Strus is unlikely to bring back “star power” that would put Cleveland in position to win a title.
That could lead to discussions on whether to part with Evan Mobley, an elite defender who would generate plenty of interest around the league if the Cavs consider moving him. Windhorst states that the 25-year-old Mobley, who’s in the first season of a five-year, $270MM extension, has been “untouchable” so far.
Injury Notes: Merrill, Robinson, Embiid, Vanderbilt, Kennard, Huerter
Cavaliers wing Sam Merrill, who exited Tuesday’s game vs. Detroit after playing just seven minutes, has been diagnosed with a left hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI on Wednesday, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link). Merrill didn’t participate in today’s practice and is listed as questionable for Game 2, though given his diagnosis, it would be a little surprising if he returns on Thursday.
Merrill was a crucial part of Cleveland’s rotation during its first-round series vs. Toronto, providing much-needed floor spacing. After making 42.1% of his three-pointers during the regular season, he converted 11-of-29 (37.9%) across seven games against the Raptors. Among Cavs players, only Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, and Max Strus made more threes in the first round, and each of them played more minutes and hit a lower percentage than Merrill.
As Fedor notes, after Merrill went down in Game 1, the Cavs increased the workloads of Strus and Jaylon Tyson and inserted Keon Ellis into their rotation.
“We’ll probably have to lean on those guys if Sam isn’t back right away,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Knicks center Mitchell Robinson has been added to the team’s injury report due to an illness and is considered a game-time decision for Wednesday’s Game 2, head coach Mike Brown told reporters this afternoon (Twitter link via James L. Edwards III of The Athletic). Robinson played just 12 minutes and had two points, four rebounds, and four fouls in Game 1.
- Although the Sixers ruled out Joel Embiid for Game 2 of their series vs. New York, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll miss multiple contests. Head coach Nick Nurse said today that it’s fair to consider Embiid day-to-day as a result of his ankle and hip injuries, tweets Tony Jones of The Athletic.
- As gruesome as Jarred Vanderbilt‘s finger injury looked on Tuesday, the Lakers provided a positive update on his status on Wednesday. “They were able to put his finger back together. He’s splinted and he’s day to day,” head coach JJ Redick said of Vanderbilt, who sustained an open dislocation of his right pinky finger (Twitter link via Khobi Price of the California Post). Vanderbilt is considered doubtful to play in Game 2 on Thursday, while Luke Kennard is also on the injury report as questionable due to neck soreness, per the team (Twitter link via Jovan Buha).
- Pistons wing Kevin Huerter, on the shelf since April 27 due to a left adductor strain, has been listed as doubtful for Game 2 vs. Cleveland, per Hunter Patterson of The Athletic (Twitter link). Huerter was listed as questionable for Game 1 being being downgraded to out.
Cavaliers Change Starting Lineup For Game 5
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson made a change to his starting lineup for Wednesday’s Game 5 against the Raptors, replacing defensive specialist Dean Wade with Max Strus, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only story.
The move is designed to spark the Cavs’ struggling offense after they averaged just 96.5 points per game in a pair of losses at Toronto. Cleveland shot 36.8% from the field and 25% from three-point range on Sunday while squandering a late lead and allowing the Raptors to tie the series.
Strus connected at 40.2% from beyond the arc in 12 games after returning from a broken foot in mid-March, and Atkinson is impressed with his postseason track record.
“He’s got a lot of experience in the playoffs,” Atkinson said in a pre-game session with the media. “I think it’s experience, savvy, know-how, IQ, connector, all those things. They translate. Those characteristics translate into playoffs.”
Fedor notes that tonight marks the first time since December 14 that Wade hasn’t been part of the starting five when he’s healthy. He has helped to neutralize the impact of Brandon Ingram and Scottie Barnes through the first four games of the series, but Atkinson is more concerned about fixing the team’s offensive issues.
Fedor states that Strus should help “declutter” the offense by providing more spacing and better shooting and cutting than it had with Wade starting. Strus’ presence is expected to prevent Toronto’s defense from focusing so much attention on Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.
Strus has been up and down in the current series, posting 24, six, 15 and one points in the four games. He was a minus-16 and minus-15 in the two losses, but his coach doesn’t believe that reflects his overall value.
“I think he’s played pretty well,” Atkinson said. “I don’t judge just solely on making and missing shots. He’s an important piece to what we do.”
As Atkinson alluded to, Strus has a wealth of playoff experience, reaching the postseason every year since 2021 and holding a 36-32 record in those games. He was a starter for the Miami team that made a surprising run to the NBA Finals in 2023.
Fedor also notes that there’s value in having the 6’9″ Wade as part of the second unit because the team hasn’t done well in the minutes that Evan Mobley has played at center. Putting another big body on the court could help ease the pressure on Mobley to protect the rim and equalize the rebounding battle.
Central Notes: Giannis, Strus, Wade, Walker, Pacers
Although this wasn’t the first time in his 13-year NBA career that Giannis Antetokounmpo found himself involved in trade rumors, he admitted during a recent appearance on Gogi’s Garage (YouTube link) that he wasn’t ready for just how persistent they would become over the course of the 2025/26 season.
Antetokounmpo spoke publicly about his desire to stay with the Bucks, but he consistently added caveats to those statements, suggesting that competing for a title is his top priority and that he only wants to remain in Milwaukee if the team is capable of doing so. The two-time MVP ultimately didn’t go anywhere at the trade deadline, but the constant trade speculation was a distraction for the Bucks, prompting Antetokounmpo to express regret that he didn’t try more forcefully to shut down those rumors.
“If I could turn time back, I would maybe come out a little bit earlier and say, ‘Hey, guys, this ends today,'” Giannis said (hat tip to Kurt Helin of NBC Sports). “‘Look at me in the eyes. I’m staying with Milwaukee until further notice. It ends today. Stop making stories, and after stories, and after stories.'”
The relationship between the Bucks and Antetokounmpo became tenser down the stretch when the two sides disagreed about how to handle a late-season injury. Given how the season ended, it seems safe to assume the Giannis rumor mill will roar back to life in the coming months.
We have more from around the Central:
- Sidelined until mid-March with a foot injury, Max Strus is playing a significant role for the Cavaliers off the bench in the postseason, scoring 24 points in Game 1 on Saturday and logging nearly 27 minutes of action in Game 2 on Monday. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com takes a closer look at Strus’ extended recovery period following surgery to repair a Jones fracture, noting that there was some doubt about the veteran wing’s ability to make it back and play meaningful minutes this spring.
- While the Cavaliers initially envisioned Strus as their starting small forward this season, it’s Dean Wade who has taken on that role in the playoffs. Wade, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, is considered more of a defensive specialist and his play on that end of the court has helped Cleveland stymie Raptors leading scorer Brandon Ingram through the first two games of the series, as Joe Vardon of The Athletic details. Ingram scored just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting on Monday, prompting Cavs star Donovan Mitchell to single out Wade as someone who “deserves a bunch of credit” for his performance. “I know he only had three points, but his impact is extremely high outside of just the scoring,” Mitchell said.
- Breaking down Jarace Walker‘s third NBA season, Tony East of Circle City Spin observes that the Pacers forward got off to a slow start before taking a step forward in the middle of the year and then finishing strong. While Walker will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason, he’ll likely need to prove that he can maintain his second-half level in order to get the sort of second contract he’ll be seeking.
- A pair of assistant coaches from the Noblesville Boom – the Pacers‘ G League affiliate, are leaving the organization for WNBA jobs, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files, who tweets that Kelly Faris will be an assistant on the Chicago Sky’s staff, while Amiee Book will serve as the Phoenix Mercury’s head video coordinator.
Central Notes: Cavs, Wade, Siakam, Donovan, Bulls
With the playoffs around the corner, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is still considering what his starting and closing lineups will look like, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required). As Fedor points out, the fact that Dean Wade immediately reentered the starting five in his Wednesday return from a seven-game absence due to an ankle sprain bodes well for the forward’s chances of keeping that role during the postseason.
“We have the data, how good he’s been with that group,” Atkinson said of starting Wade. “We’ve been struggling a little bit defensively. He obviously adds that element and when he makes a three(-pointer) or two like he did, that helps us tremendously.”
Wade, Jaylon Tyson, Sam Merrill, and Max Strus have all dealt with health issues this season and have been active at the same time in just two games this season, so Atkinson acknowledged that availability will be the first factor that determines his playoff rotation. With Wade on a minutes restriction and Tyson still sidelined with a toe injury on Wednesday, it was Merrill who closed the game for Cleveland.
“I feel confident with Sam’s ability,” Atkinson said of that decision. “That’s the hard one. You’re going to have probably three, four people to choose from, I would think. You guys are going to say, ‘Why didn’t you play this guy?’ So, we’ve got to make those decisions, we’ve got to make the right decisions under pressure.”
We have more from around the Central:
- As a result of missing Thursday’s game in Brooklyn due to a left ankle sprain, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam will fall short of the 65-game threshold to be eligible for end-of-season awards, notes Tony East of Circle City Spin (Twitter link). Based on Indiana’s record (19-61), Siakam was a long shot for All-NBA recognition anyway, but he has had an excellent individual season, averaging 24.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 48.4% from the floor, including 35.8% on three-pointers.
- Responding on Thursday to Bulls president Michael Reinsdorf‘s assertion that the team doesn’t want to hire a head of basketball operations who isn’t a fan of Billy Donovan, the veteran head coach suggested to reporters, including Ian Nicholas Quillen of The Associated Press, not to read too much into it. “I think Michael was making the point of how he felt about me,” Donovan said. “But I also understand that, like I said, everybody’s got to look out for what is best for the Bulls at that point in time.”
- Addressing several Bulls-related topics in a mailbag for The Chicago Tribune (subscription required), Julia Poe says that investing in player development and scouting should be a priority under the next front office, writing that Arturas Karnisovas was “lacking notably in his willingness to fill out staffing in key departments and allowed personal issues to dictate his personnel management.”
- In his preview of their offseason, Bobby Marks of ESPN (YouTube link) looks at potential next steps for the Bulls and explains why the team needs to be careful about how it uses its significant cap room this summer.
Cavaliers Clinch Playoff Berth
The Cavaliers clinched a berth in the playoffs after winning at Golden State on Thursday, per the NBA (Twitter link).
Star guard Donovan Mitchell led the way with a team-high 25 points, with Max Strus right behind him at 24. All five starters were in double figures and big men Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen both had double-doubles.
It was a hard-fought victory for the Cavs, as the shorthanded Warriors battled to the end before coming up short. Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski had 25 points apiece for Golden State.
Cleveland is currently 48-29, the No. 4 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons (56-21), Celtics (51-25) and Knicks (49-28) previously secured playoff spots in the East.
The Cavs were the East’s top seed entering last year’s playoffs, compiling a 64-18 record prior to losing in the second round to Indiana. The team has been much more up and down in comparison — Cleveland was only 22-19 at the halfway mark.
Obviously, the Cavaliers have played much better in recent months, going 26-10 over their last 36 games. Their hot streak actually preceded the trade, but the club has talked extensively about how acquiring James Harden ahead of the February deadline has brought new energy — and a renewed sense of urgency — to a team with championship aspirations.
As we noted earlier on Thursday, we already know the other six postseason teams in the East, but we don’t yet know which of them will make the playoffs outright and avoid the play-in tournament. Atlanta is in the best position to claim a top-six spot, as the Hawks are currently 44-33, the No. 5 seed.
Central Notes: Buzelis, Donovan, Giddey, Allen, Stewart
Amid rumors about Billy Donovan‘s future with the Bulls, second-year forward Matas Buzelis made it clear he hopes Donovan remains in his role as head coach next season, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.
“He’s been everything, man,” Buzelis said. “He’s been a role model to me; he’s someone I look up to as a person, as a human being. He’s a guy that’s been a cornerstone for me. He’s pushed me to my limits, and he’s going to keep pushing me until I can’t be pushed anymore.
“I can’t thank somebody like that enough. He tells you the truth every time. It’s hard to do that, especially in this league, to have someone in your corner that is going to tell you everything you need to hear.”
Here’s more from around the Central Division:
- Bulls guard Josh Giddey hopes the team is able to “keep playing the right way” to close out the season, Cowley writes in another story. Giddey acknowledged Chicago’s roster situation is a little unusual with so many impending free agents. “I’m not going to speak for other guys because I know how it is to be in a contract year, and individually you are always worried about yourself,” said Giddey, who signed a four-year, $100MM contract as a restricted free agent last year. “Everybody wants to play well, that’s no secret, contract-wise or not, especially coming into free agency. You want to perform, you want your visibility to be as high as possible, so I get it from that point of view. But it’s important to make everything about the team. It’s easy for guys to waver and think about themselves. I was guilty of it, as well. I just think it’s important to let that stuff get handled in the offseason. Don’t drag it into the team. In stints I thought we played selfish ball [Wednesday] and started to get in one-on-one stuff, iso stuff, and it’s just not the way we play. It’s not sustainable and not how we have to win games.”
- Veteran center Jarrett Allen provided a major boost to the Cavaliers in Friday’s lopsided victory over Miami, writes Tom Withers of The Associated Press. Allen, who had missed the previous 10 games due to right knee tendonitis, had eight points in the first four minutes, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds in 18 minutes. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said the former All-Star big man would be on a restriction of about 20 minutes prior to the game, Withers notes. “It was great,” Allen said of his quick start. “Shout-out to Kenny, he drew up the first play for me. I usually don’t get the first play sometimes, but he wanted to get me going, wanted to get me back in the groove of things and from there, things just started rolling for me.” Max Strus, who was making his sixth appearance of 2025/26 following offseason foot surgery, led the Cavs with a season-high 29 points (on 10-of-14 shooting) in 23 minutes, Withers adds.
- Reserve big man Isaiah Stewart has been cleared to resume on-court activities, the Pistons announced in a press release. The 25-year-old center/forward is recovering from a left calf strain, having last suited up on March 13.
Central Notes: Strus, Siakam, Pacers, Ivey
Max Strus has only been back for two games, but it’s clear that Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has big plans for him heading into the playoffs, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes in a subscriber-only piece. Strus was part of the closing lineup in Tuesday’s win over Milwaukee, and Atkinson intends to keep him in a featured role moving forward.
“I have such a comfort level with him,” Atkinson said. “I could see it going any way with him. Maybe starting lineup. Maybe sixth man. We will see how that plays out. But it’s hard not to finish with the guy because he is such a clutch player. We’ll see where it ends up. He has a way of imposing his will and makes you put him in the lineup.”
Strus, who had been sidelined since undergoing foot surgery in late August, contributed six points, six rebounds and four assists Tuesday in 23 minutes off the bench and hit a late three-pointer that helped Cleveland put the game away. Fedor states that Atkinson plans to steadily increase Strus’ minutes over the 13 remaining games in hopes of having him consistently in the high 20s by the start of the postseason.
Strus’ return will lead to difficult decisions for Atkinson as he sets his nine-man rotation for the playoffs. The Cavs acquired Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder from Sacramento at the trade deadline to upgrade their perimeter defense, and Fedor states that Sam Merrill seems to be another one of Atkinson’s favorite players because of his reliability from three-point range. Fedor speculates that second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson, whom general manager Koby Altman called a franchise cornerstone earlier in the season, may be left out.
“I’m still evaluating who fits and who is going to kind of take the lead in terms of getting in that rotation,” Atkinson said. “We haven’t made a clear decision on who those nine are. Still think we have to evaluate, especially our wings. Have a lot of wings right now.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- While Pascal Siakam is making progress in his recovery from a right knee sprain, it’s still uncertain when he’ll return to action, according to Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). The Pacers forward missed his sixth consecutive game on Wednesday, but coach Rick Carlisle told reporters he expects Siakam back before the end of the season.
- Tony East of Circle City Spin examines the circumstances surrounding the Pacers‘ long losing streak, which reached 15 games on Wednesday. It’s the most consecutive losses in franchise history, and Indiana is on pace for its worst record since entering the NBA.
- Coach Billy Donovan plans to have Jaden Ivey accompany the team on its upcoming road trip in hopes that he can return to action, relays Bulls reporter Will Gottlieb (Twitter link). Ivey hasn’t played since February 11, but Donovan said the pain in his left knee is gone.
Central Notes: Strus, Mobley, Giannis, Turner, Zubac
Cavaliers forward Max Strus didn’t show any ill effects from the broken foot that sidelined him for several months as he made his season debut on Sunday, writes Joe Reedy of The Associated Press. Strus’ shot looked as good as ever, as he went 7-of-9 from the field and 6-of-7 from beyond the arc while scoring 24 points, but he was upset that his return resulted in a loss to Dallas.
“I wasn’t good enough. Obviously we didn’t win, so you could say all the things you want to say,” Strus said. “I’m proud of myself, yes, but at the end of the day we didn’t win the game. It’s a bad loss for us and hopefully we get the next one.”
Strus suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot while training last summer and underwent surgery in late August. He was projected to return to action within three to four months, but the recovery process lasted a lot longer than expected.
Strus was one of the first players off the Cavs’ bench on Sunday, and he wound up playing 23 minutes. Coach Kenny Atkinson indicated that his playing time will increase over the final four weeks of the season.
“I think it’s an emotional day when you witness someone go through what he has during the offseason and then struggling to get back. It’s emotional, but it’s also exciting,” Atkinson said. “And then just to get an injection of energy and the competitor he is back in the locker room. It’s good timing and will be a boost for the team, not just today but going forward.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- Evan Mobley admitted feeling some disappointment with his play this season after the Cavaliers won at Dallas on Friday, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com states in a subscriber-only story. “You always have high standards for yourself. I wanted to come out and dominate this year. Injuries. Different things. It doesn’t always go as planned,” Mobley said. “But you always keep going. The end goal is championship. We’re still in a good spot right now. Just got to keep stacking days. Wherever that takes you, it’s part of your journey so you can’t really get too hard on yourself. Just know things are going to turn eventually.”
- Giannis Antetokounmpo wanted to return to the game after appearing to hyperextend his left knee on Sunday, but the Bucks‘ medical staff wouldn’t permit it, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. Milwaukee held a double-digit lead over Indiana at the time, and it was decided that the risk was too great, although Antetokounmpo had to be talked out of it. “That was the time that you gotta look back and you just gotta listen. Just gotta listen,” he said. “And I listened. But I try not to make it bigger than what it is. I felt like I could finish the game. But the training staff thought it wasn’t smart for me to do so, so I just gotta trust them and go from there.”
- Myles Turner, who spent his entire career with the Pacers before signing with the Bucks last summer, assessed how Ivica Zubac will fit into the team’s system, per Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star. Turner said it’s tough to make a judgment so soon because Zubac has only played three games with Indiana and many of his teammates are injured. “You’ve kind of yet to see it,” Turner said. “With Tyrese (Haliburton), he needs space to operate and I was able to stretch the floor for him. It’s a little bit different with Zu because while he’s a good play-maker and passer, he’s more of a low-post kind of guy. I don’t know what that spacing looks like in (coach Rick Carlisle’s) system, but it’s kind of one of those things you wait to see.”