Coming to the LA Clippers, Max Strus gives fans all over the world a lot to be excited about. He’s an extremely gifted three-point shooter, with one of the most unconscious heat checks in the league, adds a locker room presence a young Clippers team could use, and will do whatever is asked of him by head coach Tyronn Lue, no questions asked. Long story short, Strus is a high-value, championship player.
Despite everything, though, the Clippers already have a dilemma regarding Strus: does Lue start him alongside Darius Garland or bring him off the bench?
Both options sound enticing; as a starter, he would run the floor with Garland, with whom he has great chemistry, but off the bench, Strus would still be impactful, leaving a defensive specialist like Kris Dunn in a starting five that needs it.
So, what do the Clippers do?
Max Strus should be starting in the Clippers’ rotation
In the starting five, Kris Dunn would do an excellent job complementing Darius Garland defensively. The two-time All-Star has made it known over the years that he struggles to hold his ground when guarding his position, and that’s where a guy like Dunn comes in, as he helps out and does the dirty work.
There’s only one problem with Dunn: he’s not a consistent three-point shooter. Will the veteran guard have nights where he feels good and shouldn't be left open? Yes. But the reality is those don’t come around as often as they should.
With Strus in the starting five, three-point shooting is the last thing the Clippers will have to worry about in the backcourt.
We already know how great a shooter Garland is. Strus, on the other hand, is on the same level, if not better. The former undrafted free agent has shot a career 37.0% from three and has had a season as good as 41% on 6.5 attempts. The sample size was strong too, as he did so in 68 games.
Defensively, Strus is definitely not as good as Dunn. However, he can still contribute just enough on that side of the ball to get the job done, which is really all the Clippers need.
That said, while the Clippers might have a dilemma on their hands with Strus, the answer is crystal clear: start him. He’s too good to come off the bench, and this is a decision Garland would certainly approve of.
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