A Cavs trade for Caris LeVert would just seem desperate, could backfire

At this juncture, the Cleveland Cavaliers are 16-12, which is better than anybody would’ve expected. The Cavaliers have played arguably the league’s toughest schedule thus far, and even with their share of injuries and illness/COVID-19 health and safety protocols absences, the club has hung in there, and piled up wins of late.

It still and will be unfortunate that Collin Sexton will be out for the rest of the season because of meniscus surgery, as even with Sexton having to adjust to somewhat of a new role earlier on, his presence and reputation helps open up others. Sexton was and when healthy still is Cleveland’s best driver, without question.

Nonetheless, with Sexton and the team not coming to an agreement prior the season/past deadline on a contract extension, he’s set to be a restricted free agent next offseason.

I still would like to see Sexton around for the long haul on the Cavaliers, as even with him needing to improve particularly as a team defender, and continue to make strides off-ball and as a secondary playmaker, I still will always see his value. Sexton’s three-level scoring abilities should not discounted, and with his presence, I still believe he can take pressure off of other players, which aids shooters and can for rolling threats.

That being said, I understand that we’ll continue to see Sexton’s name out there in trade rumors, as it was prior to the season. To that point, it was recently reported by Joe Vardon of The Athletic (subscription required) that the Indiana Pacers do “like” Sexton, but in Vardon’s report it didn’t necessarily indicate that Indiana would be willing to part with necessarily notable value for Sexton.

Even still, with Shams Charania and Bob Kravitz of The Athletic (subscription required) recently reporting that the Pacers could be open to shifting to a full-rebuild, and mentioned how players such as Caris LeVert, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner they could seemingly be open to dealing, many will naturally look at LeVert as a potential Cleveland target.

And while one can’t say for certain if Indiana would possibly include LeVert in a possible deal with the Cavs, I can acknowledge that I’d assume the Cavaliers could inquire on Caris. This report from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com seemingly confirms that notion, too.

LeVert, who’s had 15.5 points and 3.2 assists in 28.8 minutes per outing in 20 appearances this season, is a good player, and is 6-foot-6. He’s a more than capable pull-up shooter, can create for himself on drives with quickness and hesitations, has some mid-post abilities and he’s a pretty solid passer. That’s particularly in the secondary playmaking variety, at least.

Again, it’s unclear if Cleveland could potentially be able to land LeVert, though, and based on the report from Vardon and just objectively speaking, one would think it’d take a bunch to land him, or for Indiana to really even consider dealing him. Vardon stated how while Indy “likes” Sexton, he does not know “if their affinity for him would lead to a trade.”

These comments from reporter Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword and Right Down Euclid demonstrate that to me, too; they’re in response to Mac Robinson of 92.3 The Fan. Robinson expressed how Sexton as the centerpiece of a deal wouldn’t be close to salary matching for LeVert, and how needing to include other meaningful rotation pieces, such as I’d assume Cedi Osman, or Isaac Okoro and/or other assets could Cavs hesitation.

This re-confirms to me that a potential Cavs trade for LeVert would just seem desperate, and could backfire.

To reiterate, it’s unclear if the Cavaliers could even theoretically acquire LeVert, but if that were potentially on the table say sooner or near the trade deadline, it’s not a move I’d be crazy on-board with, honestly.