Appearing in a link with the JB Podcast (Link to YouTube), new Clippers the wing Max Strus joked that he doesn’t have a “bag” and said he prides himself on doing the “little things” that help his star teammates thrive and help his club win games.
“I used to have a bag in college, but now I don’t” – said Strus. “You find your niche and you just go for it. I knew shooting the basketball was going to get me on the floor, and then I knew playing defense was going to keep me on the floor, and that’s what I did. I’m going to guard. I’m not afraid to guard anybody. I’m going to guard the best player. I don’t care. They’re going to score on me because everybody’s so good. You really can’t stop anyway, how can I make it as tough as possible?
“I think those little things — rebounding, defense, pass, extra pass — keep me in the game, keep me on track. I don’t have to throw the ball, I’m fine. I can do other things that I know help the team win, (that) I know make our best players better. That’s where I’m at in my career, being the glue guy.”
After missing most of last season with a foot injury, Straus played well after his second-half return, averaging 11.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game with a .402 3PT% in 12 regular season games before registering 9.6 points and 4.8 points in 18 playoff games for Cleveland. The veteran swingman plans to play a rotation role in Los Angeles in the final year of his current contract.
Here’s more on the Clippers:
- With the punishments they received from the NBA for circumventing the restrictions, what is next for the Clippers? Law Murray of The Athletic reflects on what to expect from the team on the court this season, noting that head coach Tyronn Lue will work on himself James Harden, Ivitsa Zubacand (supposedly) Kawhi Leonard no longer listed.
- He was joined by Murray on a recent episode of his Game Theory podcast (Link to YouTube), Sam Veseny of The Athletic opined that the Clippers should take advantage of ownership Steve Ballmerwealth to absorb other teams’ failed contracts in an attempt to recoup some draft capital. Vecenie also notes that cap flexibility in Los Angeles could allow the team to try to go out and get a top restricted free agent next summer. “They could do it where it’s, ‘Hey, next summer we’re going to use our turf.’ We will try to steal Anthony Blackwe will go try to steal Scoot Hendersonor some young player like that,” – said Vecheni. “Take flyers about young guys that (they) think are very suitable Keaton Wagler. .. They have so many different ways that they can still attack it because Steve Ballmer is richer than anybody.”
- In a public article SubstackEric Pincus breaks down why Leonard was treated so lightly by the Clippers for violating the league’s cap rules. Meanwhile, over at The Athletic, a number of writers have answered some lingering questions from the Leonard/Clippers saga, including how the NBA was able to avoid arbitration in punishing the Clippers.
