The Cleveland Cavaliers could be getting back some much-needed reinforcements for Sunday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks. Max Strus, who suffered a Jones fracture in his foot back in August, could be making his season debut. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game.

Strus has been an integral part of the Cavaliers since coming over in a sign-and-trade from the Miami Heat in 2023. Strus has appeared in 120 games with the Cavaliers, starting in all but 13 of those outings. In that time, he’s averaged 11 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on .426/.364/.802 shooting splits.

Strus is known as an off-ball three-point shooter. He has a knack for creating havoc with his movement and screen setting away from the play. That has helped open up what could be a stagnant starting lineup before he came to Cleveland. But to limit his game to three-point shooting would be a disservice to how complete a basketball player he is.

The Cavaliers have benefited from Strus’s ability to initiate offense as a second-side playmaker, run pick-and-rolls, and do the dirty work on defense. Despite being just 6’5”, he’s held up well in matchups with bigger opposing wings, which is useful for a team that has been lacking wings during most of his tenure in Cleveland.

More than that, Strus plays with an edge that this team has oftentimes lacked. He’s not afraid to mix it up with opponents and is quick to hold players accountable. This has happened even when he’s been held out of games, as he’s often seen instructing players during timeouts.

Despite the good news, the Cavaliers will not be fully healthy on Sunday, even if Strus plays. They will still be without Jarrett Allen (knee), Sam Merrill (hamstring), Craig Porter Jr. (groin), and Tyrese Proctor (quad). Jaylon Tyson is questionable for the game with a hamstring injury.

Strus’s probable return on Sunday will undoubtedly help the Cavs, but it does present some good problems for head coach Kenny Atkinson to figure out.

The Cavaliers have been trying to work in new faces into the lineup after the trade deadline, and haven’t been able to nail down rotations. That task has been made more difficult due to recent injuries to Evan Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Allen. It’s not easy to gauge what units work best together with so many people out of the lineup. Trying to figure out where Strus fits in doesn’t make Atkinson’s job easier, even if it should help the Cavs in the long run.