
With the pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers rising as the All-Star Game in Cleveland is only a few weeks away, it was almost certain the Cavaliers were going to make a move to improve the current roster. Multiple trade candidates including Eric Gordon, Terrence Ross, and even Buddy Hield of the Kings were involved in rumors, suggesting one of them might eventually wind up in Cleveland.
However, Koby Altman pulled the trigger on a trade Sunday afternoon, and from the looks of it, it should help the Cavaliers immensely on the offensive end of the floor. The Cavs acquired Caris LeVert from the Indiana Pacers, in exchange for the injured Ricky Rubio, a 2021 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick. It was a bold move for the Cavaliers.
The Cavs struck early and traded for Pacers wing Caris LeVert. Was the move a good one, and what does it mean for the future?
LeVert immediately gives them another play-maker with the ball in his hands. On top of that he fills a hole that needed to be filled as an attacking wing. Yes, the Cavs have built a winning culture around their third-ranked defense, but their offense needed an upgrade. The Cavaliers are ranked 21st in the NBA in drives per game, but LeVert himself is tenth in the NBA in overall drives among players. The Cavs are also near the bottom of the league in rim attempts, meaning most of their scoring comes from the mid-range or deeper. LeVert gets to the rim on 28% of his possessions and shoots over 35% of his shots from 10-12 feet.
The fit with LeVert might be tricky in the beginning, as he’s used to having the ball in his hands often. On top of that, his three-point shooting is suspect, and he hasn’t been playing his best basketball this year. He will also need to buy into the team chemistry, and that starts with the defense.
Overall, it’s a good trade for the Cavaliers in the moment, but isn’t it just really prolonging the inevitable? LeVert will be up for a new deal in 2023, while he’s under contract now through this season and next. But then what should the Cavs do with Collin Sexton? Well, I’m going to take a deeper look, and give out the three likeliest scenarios I see playing out this off-season.