Butler misses his old friend Max Strus.
Trading for Max Strus was the most consequential move the Cleveland Cavaliers made in the 2023 NBA offseason. It was so consequential, in fact, that it may have been the first domino that led to Jimmy Butler’s falling out with the Miami Heat. Butler recently demanded a trade after months of passive-aggressive behavior.
“Butler is said to have viewed Strus as a brother,” said Jack Fischer via The Stein Line. “Several people who know that edition of the Heat well cited Strus as an instrumental figure in keeping Butler steady within the greater team dynamic.”
Butler and Strus were vital pieces of Miami’s run to the 2023 NBA Finals. Strus was deemed the “Celtics killer” as his huge three-point performances gave the Heat enough juice to pull off the 1-8 upset. Other role players such as Gabe Vincent and Caleb Martin were just as impactful. It’s clear that Butler understood how valuable they were to Miami’s success — and their departure marked the beginning of the end.
“Those were Butler’s guys,” Fischer cites from an NBA source close to the Heat.
The aftermath of losing Strus should come as no surprise to anyone who has followed his time in Cleveland. Strus is a benefit to everyone on the roster. His impact on and off the court is undeniable, even if it isn’t always tangible. He’s an elite teammate who understands how to weaponize his floor-spacing ability to create opportunities for others. His growth as a playmaker has made him even better than his days in Miami. And of course, he brought a sense of maturity and toughness to a young team still searching for an identity. An identity that has since been lost in Miami.
The chemistry on display in Cleveland this season results from both the team’s continuity and Cavaliers’ President Koby Altman’s commitment to finding selfless players such as Strus. This might be a rare instance in which the Cleveland front office outsmarted the legendary Pat Riley.