For Portland, I think it’s a little weird to give up on Scoot this early, but if they don’t really believe in him anymore, I can see it. They already have Dame, Jrue and Shaedon Sharpe, so their backcourt is pretty crowded. They need wings way more, and Strus gives them shooting and spacing off the bench. They’re probably a better team with Strus, even if the move looks weird.

For Dallas, it’s a pretty good gamble. They’re betting on Scoot’s upside without giving up a crazy amount. If he develops, this could look like a steal. Dallas just really loves betting on young players who haven’t worked out yet 😂

For Cleveland, moving Strus is mainly about creating salary flexibility for a possible Peyton Watson or Kuminga move, while also getting some extra draft capital.