One(s) Who Got Away

Bad teams are bad in a variety of ways: They acquire the wrong players. They keep the wrong players. They let go of the wrong players. The Bulls are trying not to be a bad team, which is hard considering they thought acquiring and then signing Zach LaVine to a big extension was a good idea. At least they’ve seen the error of their ways in that regard. But last night’s 109-95 loss to the Cavaliers highlighted another Oops in the player personnel department. You dis Max Strus at your own peril. Strus is yet another Chicago-area athlete our teams have managed to overlook, though that’s not exactly the case with Strus, who caught on with the Bulls after playing for De Paul. But a knee injury in 2019 ended the small forward’s cup of coffee with his hometown team. Strus blossomed coming off the bench after signing with the Heat. Something about playing with Jimmy Butler, no doubt. This off-season, he went to the Cavaliers, who aren’t complaining. Strus is averaging over fourteen points a game and last night torched his ex-team for twenty-six. Strus, Butler, Bobby Portis. Some teams wouldn’t know talent if it bit them on the butt.