Max Strus continued to prove why he deserves a real spot in Miami’s rotation
The Miami Heat have been in the news a lot this offseason as a result of being able to acquire the likes of Kyle Lowry, P.J. Tucker and Markieff Morris, as well as re-signing both Duncan Robinson and Jimmy Butler, but one of their more underrated signings could very well end up being Max Strus.
Last season, Strus was a member of the Miami Heat on a two-way contract and actually played quite well near the end of the season. In 39 appearances during the 2020-21 season, Max Strus averaged 6.1 points and shot 45.5% from the floor.
While he had a poor showing against the Denver Nuggets on Day 1 of Las Vegas Summer League, scoring 13 points and having 9 personal fouls (yes, you get 10 fouls in Summer League), Max Strus bounced back in a big way on Wednesday afternoon, scoring 32 points on 7-17 shooting from three-point range, including a game-winner in 2OT!
In his great performance, Max Strus also ended up having 9 rebounds, 3 of which came on the offensive-end of the floor. One of the biggest things that stands out about watching Max Strus play is the fact that he is always moving around on the court.
READ MORE: 2021 NBA Summer League Day 3 Review and Headlines
He prefers to do most of his damage from the perimeter, but Strus is actually a really solid all-around player on the offensive-end of the floor. Whether it is getting his teammates open on screens or being able to cut down the lane and receive a pass for an easy layup, Max Strus seems to have a high knowledge for where he is on the court, which is why the Heat decided to bring him back on a new two-year contract this offseason.
Guys like Lowry, Robinson, Butler and others are going to “fill the stats sheets” this season in terms of scoring, but Max Strus could easily be a guy they look at on the bench for production. His shot is very pure and with him being able to knock down shots from virtually any part of the floor, Strus is a young wing who could easily find a role in Erik Spoelstra’s rotations.
Max Strus may not have 30-point games in the NBA like he did on Day 4 of Las Vegas Summer League, but there is no reason why he cannot provide instant shooting off-the-bench for Miami. Mark this guy down on your list of “guys to watch” for next season because he could easily become a key role player for the Heat.
