The Cleveland Cavaliers made their big NBA Trade Deadline move a few days early, trading for Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert on Sunday afternoon. It set off an avalanche of trade activity since, including Domantas Sabonis and CJ McCollum changing teams on Tuesday.
Ever since Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton went down this season, it’s been fait accompli that the Cavs would find a replacement to better face the playoff push. Players from Luke Kennard to Buddy Hield (now in Indiana himself) to Evan Fournier were bandied about, (and Eric Gordon and Gary Harris and…well, the rumor mill was grinding vigorously) but in the end it was Caris LeVert who is relocating to Forest City.
The final details of the deal involved Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract being exchanged for Caris LeVert’s deal:
Full trade: Indiana sends Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick via Miami to Cleveland for Ricky Rubio, lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick via Houston and a 2027 second-round pick via Utah, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2022
The Cavs cashed in their assets this season for Pacers guard Caris LeVert. How should this deal be graded from all angles?
Should Cavs fans be excited about the acquisition? Bummed at not acquiring someone else? Was this an overpay or a steal? Is LeVert a rental or a long-term piece of the core? These are questions that have to be raised in the wake of such a significant move.
To find the answers, let’s look at this trade from every angle. We’ll dish out grades for LeVert’s on-court fit, the asset value of the trade, the long-term impact and the opportunity cost. Then we’ll give a final verdict on whether this was a good move or not for the Cavs.