Amid all the chaos of yet another coming ownership change, the Los Angeles Lakers still have a roster that needs to be finalized for next season. Their efforts to shrink the count from 16 to 15 could have Max Strus and the Cleveland Cavaliers be the solution. Marc Stein had the latest.
"League sources say Cleveland has been exploring various trade possibilities with both Dennis Schröder and Max Strus that would enable the Cavaliers — provided one or both of those salaries could be shed — to make a representative four-year offer to [Peyton] Watson."
This would not be a simple path. The Lakers do not have have the ability to absorb Strus' deal and give the Cavaliers their desired financial flexibility to pursue Watson in restricted free agency. However, a multi-team deal could be interesting to consider here.
If there is a franchise who has a trade exception large enough to absorb Strus, they also have one that is big enough to take in Jarred Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt's $12.4 million contract for 2026-27 comes in at a smaller figure than the $16.7 million of the Cavaliers sharpshooter. The Lakers would just need to work on rerouting Strus to Los Angeles.
Max Strus could give Lakers an out to Jarred Vanderbilt
The idea here is the dust could settle on this multi-team deal with the Lakers sending out Vanderbilt, and likely Dalton Knecht, in their efforts to get Strus. Perhaps a second-round pick is tossed into the mix somewhere, too.
Executing this type of maneuver would likely involve the Lakers admitting they are not going to be the team that lands Jonathan Kuminga. Any assets being used in a potential multi-team deal to acquire Strus would be the same ones that would be needed in an outgoing sign-and-trade package for Kuminga.
So, is Strus worth it? Yes and no.
On one hand, Kuminga is a much cleaner fit as a fifth starter with this current group of Lakers. In particular, the free agent forward would plug in on the defensive end much better. The 23-year-old can guard the wings more effectively.
Strus does give the Lakers an excellent way to get off Vanderbilt's money, though. The current contract of the Cavaliers shooter is set to expire after the 2026-27 season. That gives Los Angeles an out to paying an extra season for Vando.
At this stage of his career, Strus has lost a step on his two-way ability. The effort and hustle is still there on defense, but the overall ability to stay in front of his guy has been weakened. Thankfully for the Lakers, his 3-point shot is still pretty darn effective.
This would be far from a perfect maneuver for the Lakers, but it is a workable solution to both trimming the roster and freeing up long-term money. It gives Rob Pelinka something to consider, at the least.
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