3 players from the NBA Finals who will be hot free agents
By Jakob Ashlin
NBA Finals players who will be hot free agents: 2. Max Strus
Since entering the NBA in 2019, Strus has been known for his shooting ability. In his final season at DePaul, he knocked down 3.2 three-point field goals per game.
That production carried over to Miami. In three seasons with the Heat, he has made 3.5 three-point field goals per game at a 37.1 percent clip.
Entering the postseason, the big question for Strus centered around his defensive ability. He has carried a negative defensive box plus/minus throughout his career. With the game slowed down, opposing offenses were guaranteed to hunt Strus, as opposed to Jimmy Butler, Caleb Martin, Kyle Lowry, or Bam Adebayo.
Well, Strus has more than held his own. He performed particularly well in matchups against Jaylen Brown and Jalen Brunson. Here is a quick look at both player’s statistics with Strus as the primary defender:
Jaylen Brown: 15 points (6-18 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-3 FT), 4 TO
Jalen Brunson: 17 points (5-14 FG, 1-3 3PT, 6-6 FT), 1 TO
However, Jayson Tatum enjoyed a lot more success against him, scoring 33 points (13-23 FG, 3-8 3PT, 8-8 FT). Strus was able to contain him on individual possessions, though:
There was more effort later in the game. Strus got beat quite a few times early in the game even by Horford
— John Jablonka (@JohnJablonka_) May 18, 2023
But here, he switches on Tatum & holds his ground. This was perfect defense from him
& to end it, you have Butler getting the steal. Perfect pic.twitter.com/edhqldx1aS
Look, Strus is not an elite perimeter defender, but he did not get run off the court. His shooting ability makes him an asset to any NBA offense, especially in the modern game, and teams do not have to worry about him compromising their defense in a playoff series.
He should receive plenty of interest around the association. Like Vincent, the Heat own Strus’s bird rights. So, Miami should be a safe bet to retain him.