Cavaliers lose Strus at season start, Garland to miss training camp

Max Strus will miss the start of the Cleveland Cavaliers regular season after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot, the team announced Tuesday, a setback that arrives as the Cavs also expect All Star guard Darius Garland to miss training camp while recovering from separate offseason toe surgery. The procedures leave coach Kenny Atkinson potentially without two starters as the Cavs prepare for the 2025-26 campaign.

Cleveland said Strus sustained the fifth metatarsal fracture during an offseason workout and had successful surgery in Indianapolis performed by Dr. David Porter in consultation with team physician Dr. James Rosneck. The team issued an initial recovery window of roughly three to four months, which would rule Strus out of training camp and the early portion of the regular season.

Statistics and descriptions of Strus role vary slightly by source, but across his two seasons with Cleveland he averaged roughly 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while last season’s mark is reported at about 9.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists. A career 36 to 37 percent three-point shooter, the 6-foot-5 wing earned a starting role after leaving...