Max Strus unlikely to return to Miami Heat as free-agent suitors emerge
By Wes Goldberg
Teams are preparing strong offers for free agent Max Strus that could make it difficult for the Miami Heat to bring him back next season.
Among the teams reportedly interested in signing Strus when free agency begins 6 p.m. Friday are the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, according to multiple reports. Sources tell NBA insider Marc Stein that the Pacers could offer a deal in the range of three years, $48 million. The Pacers have more than $30 million in cap room and are positioned to make an extremely competitive offer.
Echoing similar intel, sources told the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson that Strus expects to command the $12.3 million mid-level exception “or potentially something higher from the Pacers or Pistons.”
Meanwhile, Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer listed the Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers, in addition to the Pistons and Pacers, as teams that might make an offer to Strus. With so much competition for Strus, it appears unlikely that he will return to the Heat next season, per Fischer.
"There appears to be enough of an interest in Strus around the NBA that league figures aren’t expecting the DePaul product to return to Miami."
Strus started all 23 playoff games for the Heat during their run to the NBA Finals. A career 37% 3-point shooter, the 27-year-old has developed as a solid defender and occasional playmaker. Despite his shooting struggles against the Nuggets in the Finals (10 for 43 on 3s), Strus appears to have a strong market.
Because they hold his Bird rights, the Heat can match or beat any outside offer for Strus. The problem for the Heat is that they are already nudging against the second luxury tax apron and, with Duncan Robinson still under contract and the Heat trying to offload Kyle Lowry, are prioritizing bringing back free agent point guard Gabe Vincent over Strus. Signing both to deals in the mid-level exception range could add $100 million in luxury tax payments.
“I’ve had an unbelievable time here,” Strus said in a media session after the season. “I did what I came here to do for myself. They gave me an opportunity and I took advantage of it.”