Cavaliers reportedly still trying to trade Max Strus for more flexibility

Cleveland's salary-clearing work may not be finished with Dennis Schroder.

Marc Stein reported that the Cavaliers remain in active search of a trade to send out Max Strus, who is entering the final year of his current contract at $16.7 million. The update comes after Cleveland agreed Friday to trade Schroder to Charlotte, a move Stein said will shed nearly $7 million in salary for next season.

The Cavaliers are reportedly chasing more flexibility. Stein wrote that Cleveland is looking at Nuggets restricted free agent Peyton Watson and Hawks unrestricted free agent Jonathan Kuminga, while also working toward the re-signing of James Harden.

One source familiar with that process told Stein that Harden's new multiyear deal should be completed "soon-ish." Watson's market is another pressure point: Denver's offers have reportedly been in the $70 million range over four seasons, while Watson is believed to want more per year than Christian Braun's five-year, $125 million extension.

Moving Strus would cost Cleveland shooting and playoff experience. Still, the maneuvering shows how aggressively the Cavaliers are trying to balance money and flexibility before locking in the next roster.