Love, who played 489 games with the Cavaliers, built a close relationship with Strus on the Heat.

“I just told him the truth,” Love told cleveland.com in a sit-down earlier this season. “I thought it would be a great landing spot for him. I thought he would fit really well with the guys and be such a good value add in terms of his personality, along with his playing style that fits so well. I said, ‘I think you will be really happy landing there

Strus signed a four-year, $62.3 million contract with the Cavaliers as part of a sign-and-trade deal with the Heat. The 27-year-old is averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season while shooting 41.2% from the field, 34.0% from 3 and 78.5% from the foul line.

“I only had to talk to him once,” Strus told cleveland.com. “Me and Kevin talk a lot, just in general, about life. It wasn’t much that needed to be said. Whatever his word was I took it. The one conversation we had was long and thoughtful. That’s all I needed from him. I listen to everything he says. I make enough money to be in his friend group now. I cherish our friendship.”

The Cavaliers are 43-25 on the season. They are in third place in the Eastern Conference standings.

“He’s so much more than just a straight-up knockdown shooter,” Love said. “He has a certain capability and swagger to him that I’m glad people are being able to see. Think you saw that last year here, but I think he is certainly blossoming into somebody who is a very, very good NBA player and will only get better.

“I don’t think people understand how athletic he really is and how good of a basketball player he really is. He is incredibly well-rounded. He defends. Ultra competitor. I love his game and love him as a person. I always talk about little brothers like Darius (Garland). Max became that for me as well. He is one of the guys I talk to the most and am closest to and I will be very close to him even after I’m done playing.”