The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to emerge from their mini NBA Cup “bye week” with a challenging four-day stretch of games against the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, and Utah Jazz starting Friday. However, the team remains uncertain about the availability of Max Strus and Isaac Okoro for these matchups.
Max Strus, who has yet to make his season debut, appears to be nearing his return. On Wednesday, he participated fully in practice, signaling significant progress in his recovery. This development provides hope that Strus could soon rejoin the lineup and make an impact.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson spoke about Strus’ potential return, emphasizing the importance of evaluating how he recovers from the intensity of practice. “It’s really more feedback from him,” Atkinson said. “How does he react from today’s high? It’s not about what I saw today but how he feels tomorrow. When does he feel comfortable, and when does the medical team feel comfortable? We’re awfully close [to his return].”
Strus is expected to align well with Atkinson’s vision for the offense. His ability to move and shoot will undoubtedly contribute, but it’s his off-ball cutting that has the coaching staff most excited. “He looked great,” Atkinson remarked about Strus’ practice performance. “I got to get to know him better, but his cutting—I’m really excited about that. He’s going to be a great cutter in this system, which I think will help our offense.”
On the other hand, Isaac Okoro, who injured his right shoulder in Monday’s win over the Brooklyn Nets, missed practice on Wednesday. Atkinson described the injury as “day-to-day” and reassured fans that it doesn’t appear to be a long-term issue. While he did not disclose specifics about the injury, the coach noted that Okoro’s availability for the weekend games remains uncertain.
The Cavaliers face a tough schedule this weekend, but the news surrounding Strus and Okoro is encouraging for the team’s near future. Even if they don’t suit up for these critical games, their impending returns provide optimism for the Cavaliers as they navigate this demanding stretch of the season.
