What could Cavs trade target Caris LeVert provide for the team?

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently having a fantastic road trip with a nice set of wins over the Portland Trail Blazers (114-101), Sacramento Kings (109-108), Utah Jazz (111-91) and San Antonio Spurs (114-109). The only loss was to the Golden State Warriors (96-82). The Cavs will face the Oklahoma City Thunder for the final game of the trip on Saturday night.

Despite the recent success of the team, there is always room for improvement and that’s exactly why the Cavs are reportedly interested in Indiana Pacers wing Caris LeVert. This season at age 27, LeVert is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds per game.

LeVert started his impressive career in Brooklyn with the Nets back in 2016 and played five seasons there before most of the last two to this point in Indiana.

With both Cleveland guards Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio out for the season with tough injuries, the Cavs could certainly use some reinforcement in the backcourt as the season progresses. LeVert can handle the ball well and is a playmaker himself.

Yes, the Cavs did recently trade for Rajon Rondo to be a complementary guard on the squad. While Rondo is certainly a helpful addition and has played well with the likes of guard Darius Garland in stretches, it’s simply not enough for this team that has a record of 25-18 and is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference Standings. Rondo is currently dealing with hamstring soreness, also, and is 35.

What would be interesting is what players or draft picks the Cavaliers would be willing to give up in order to acquire LeVert from the Pacers.

A few smart options would be trading away Ricky Rubio’s contract ($17.8 million this season) with picks, such as seemingly Cleveland’s first-round pick for next season, and perhaps one or both of Cleveland’s current second-round picks via the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs. Another option could be power forward Lauri Markkanen (signed through the 2024-25 season) and maybe a combination of a few of those picks.

Granted, per a report from Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, Indiana is seeking multiple first-round picks in potential deals, so we’d have to see on that.

The team doesn’t want to become overzealous and remove pieces from a squad that is showing success; more success than was originally expected this year, anyhow. The front office must be careful in any type of trade deal, particularly with LeVert’s injury history, of which KJG’s Will Holtz hit on in the link above.

The Indiana Pacers are currently 13th in the Eastern Conference with a 15-28 record overall. Thus, a former playoff rival to the Cavs in the past are certainly sellers dragging through a very disappointing season of their own, with some of that due to injury, though.

The NBA trade deadline for this season is Feb. 10 at 3 PM. There is a little less than a month for the teams to get their affairs in order when it comes to making these moves.

Should LeVert become a member of the Cavs, look for this team to thrive even more than it already has this season. That additional scoring plus the overall ability to take control when it counts most could be vital down the stretch and hopefully into the playoffs.

Over the course of the coming weeks, we shall see what ends up happening and if this rumor becomes a reality and we witness Caris LeVert in a Wine and Gold uniform.