Division Rival is waiving the ideal free agent from the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without winger Max Strus for more than a month, making them a potential suitor in the last-minute free agent market.

Cleveland's wing rotation has already been their biggest weakness over the past two seasons, and a quiet offseason has done little to address those concerns. The Cavs will start the regular season without their starting small forward, and realistic replacements are hard to find.

As NBA teams trim down their rosters before opening night, the Boston Celtics are without Lonnie Walker IV, a microwave scorer who rebuilt his career during his season with the Los Angeles Lakers. As a speedy winger, Walker quickly became a target for various franchises. Last season for the Brooklyn Nets, Walker averaged 9.7 points and 2.2 rebounds per game while shooting 38.4 percent from distance.

Walker is sure to catch the market's attention after two productive seasons prior to his short-lived tenure in Boston. His volume shooting and efficiency from deep could make Walker a uniquely talented depth player for numerous rosters. The Celtics waiving him was an unexpected move that could give a rival another reliable contributor, and there's no reason the Cavaliers shouldn't be on the roster.

In his 2022-23 year with the Lakers, Walker averaged 11.7 points and shot 36.5 from three. At 25 years old, Walker still has growth potential and has proven to be a legitimate rotation player in the NBA. Given the Cavaliers' sudden decline in play, Walker could be an ideal answer. His quick movement and strong attack in the paint could be a highly valued talent for Cleveland's early season.

Strus is not out for the season, but his extended absence will give the Cavaliers time to find their best talent outside of the starting lineup. Adding Walker to the pool improves Cleveland's overall versatility off the bench and increases floor spacing. While the Cavaliers employ a number of forwards such as Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade, Georges Niang and Jaylon Tyson, none of them have the explosive offensive potential that Walker offers.

At 6-foot-3, Walker doesn't fill Cleveland's need for a big winger, but he doesn't create a new problem either. Walker could compete with all of the Cavs' other forwards for a chance to play in the nightly rotation upon Stur's return. His resurgence with the Lakers made Walker one of the most sought-after free agents the following summer.

The Cavaliers still have one available roster spot. While they are above the luxury tax threshold, they have enough room below the next tax threshold to sign Walker to a minimum contract of one year. Considering Cleveland has been underwhelming on the wing over the last two seasons, taking advantage of a young big player like Walker could be a big step forward for the rising contender.

Walker has proven to be a modern NBA talent, shooting confidently from distance and finding his role in the offense. He's a willing and dedicated role player, two traits that would fit perfectly in Cleveland's system. Given an unfortunate injury earlier in the year, the Cleveland Cavaliers should seriously consider giving Walker a new home in the NBA as a versatile winger.