3 winners on the Cavs roster from the 2022 NBA Draft

3 winners on the Cavs roster from the 2022 NBA Draft: Caris LeVert

The Cleveland Cavaliers paid a hefty sum to bring in Caris LeVert last season, trading a first-round pick and a lucrative second-rounder to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for LeVert at February’s trade deadline. The first-rounder deferred to next season, and the second became Gonzaga’s Andrew Nembhard at pick No. 31.

LeVert’s time in Cleveland was not very smooth. His ball-handling and playmaking helped the offense a little, but those gains were wiped out by his complete inability to stay in front of anyone on defense. He was hampered by injuries, which could have played a part, but to this point the early returns were quite poor.

That made this something of an uncertain summer for LeVert and the Cavs. Would the team draft a wing with strong secondary ball-handling skills, a guy like Jalen Williams or Dalen Terry, thus making LeVert’s biggest strength less needed? Could they even have moved LeVert for draft capital on the night of the draft? Both options were solidly in play.

Yet in the end, neither happened. LeVert could obviously be moved during free agency, but the draft itself didn’t cause any concern for LeVert’s place on the roster. The Cavs need his playmaking, and unless Collin Sexton returns and the team signs a strong point guard to back up Garland, there will be room in the rotation for what he provides. The hope is a full training camp and a healthy start for LeVert will lead to much better results.