Cavs will need Caris LeVert to hit his stride with them in PnR next year

Caris LeVert didn’t have the results both he and the Cleveland Cavaliers would’ve wanted in his time with them following his trade acquisition from the Indiana Pacers near this season’s trade deadline.

LeVert, for context, had 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds per contest in 39 outings with Indiana during this now-past season, whereas with Cleveland, he had only 13.6 points per outing, most notably. He had 3.9 assists and 3.4 rebounds per outing in his 19 appearances with the Cavaliers after the trade, paired with that.

LeVert didn’t look to be in-rhythm nearly enough to be as impactful as one would’ve thought he could’ve been following the trade for the Cavs, and his effective field goal shooting rate was 48.1 percent. His three-point shooting hit rate with Cleveland in those 19 regular season games was 31.3 percent.

Now, LeVert was in a totally new situation, and it was going to take some time for him to get comfortable. It was evident that was going to be the case, so one had to be patient.

It was also not a certainty whether or not he’d start, or come off the bench. He spent time doing both post-deadline with the Cavaliers, and it was a somewhat fluid situation. He was going to receive his share of minutes, anyhow, and did play 29.8 per appearance with Cleveland.

All things considered, LeVert has had ups and downs with the Cavaliers in his time with them thus far, but it does seem as if he could potentially still be a long term piece for them. The same does also apply with Collin Sexton, though, for what it’s worth, and both could have a sizeable impact for Cleveland next season.

This is in the same scenario both are back, and per a report from Evan Dammarell of Fear The Sword and Right Down Euclid, it seems likely Sexton returns, given how he can help, and with him being such a gifted shot creator and driver.

And honestly, with how Cleveland went out and acquired him, and with how he can help as a scorer and facilitator, too, I’d think there’s a possibility both Sexton and LeVert could stick around. At least in theory, one would think that could play out.

All of that said, next season, an area to me where LeVert has to be much more effective next season is in the pick-and-roll for Cleveland. He wasn’t able to be nearly as capable as I expected him to potentially be this season in that realm with the Cavs, and that can’t repeat itself.

LeVert has to hit his stride in the PnR with the Cavs next season.

As we’ve touched on, LeVert and the team didn’t have the results the would’ve wanted from Caris post-trade. He wasn’t able to consistently establish a rhythm in the offense nearly enough, and to make things tougher, LeVert missed the Cavaliers’ first nine games after the All-Star break.

It was just difficult for him to get comfortable game-to-game it seemed, and while the injury of course didn’t help, LeVert was not quite the pick-and-roll ball handler I thought he may have been for the Cavs in stretches.

With the Cavaliers post-trade, it was only in 19 games, but LeVert placed in only the 33rd percentile as a pick-and-roll ball handling scorer, per Synergy Sports. With the Pacers during this season, he placed in the 79th percentile in that playtype, by comparison.

Now, I did think there were a number of instances where LeVert did still get to his spots, and he demonstrated how for stretches, he can be a solid playmaking presence for Cleveland. I don’t discount that, and throughout his career, also dating back to his days with the Brooklyn Nets, LeVert showed he’s a capable playmaker, and as a primary one at times.

But next season, it would be meaningful for Cleveland if he can find his stride in the pick-and-roll, and we did still see his abilities there, albeit with inconsistencies.

There will be others involved, and he won’t have the PnR volume of Darius Garland, and I’d expect Collin Sexton and others to have PnR work.

Next season, though, LeVert should have his share of opportunities with Jarrett Allen in the PnR, an elite roller and excellent screener, which should make a difference. LeVert didn’t play much with Allen, so that has to be laid out there, too.

But, just overall, LeVert didn’t look to be all that comfortable on-ball with Cleveland, and his PnR struggles with the Cavs demonstrated that, to some extent. Next year, hopefully we see him make quicker decisions in that realm more often game-to-game, when the Cavaliers are using him in those ways.

I do believe that should be the case, however, and with a full offseason, seemingly, with Cleveland, LeVert should be fine.

It’s again not a certainty if he’ll stick around long term right now it’d seem, but if he can rebound earlier next season, regardless of his formal role, perhaps this late-season play won’t be too much to overreact to.