Pass or Pay on new contract extensions for 3 Cavs players

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Caris LeVert, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images /

Pass or Pay on new contract extensions for 3 Cavs: Caris LeVert

Caris LeVert was an expensive deadline acquisition for the Cavs, who outbid other teams to add the former Indiana Pacers swingman. On paper, he looks like a good fit, a secondary ball-handler with good size and playmaking. In essence, he should be a larger, better-passing version of Collin Sexton.

In reality, he was an inefficient defensive sieve whose personal scoring and middling playmaking helped the offense a little and hurt the defense a lot. In 58 games LeVert generated just 2.2 estimated wins per the EPM stat we used earlier; that would be $7.6 million worth of value. Even if you project him to be healthier next season, far from a given with LeVert, 75 games of that rate of production would come to just $9.8 million. That’s a far cry from the $18.8 million he will make next season.

Indeed, Stephe Noh’s tool saw Caris LeVert land among the 10 most overpaid players in the league next season. Why would the Cavs extend such a player? It’s possible that with a full offseason and with a healthy frontcourt of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen behind him LeVert is a much more valuable player next season; it’s also possible he proves to be a poor fit, a floor-raising wing who isn’t a piece of their best lineups, especially in the playoffs.

Would LeVert accept an extension for anything less than his current salary? That seems unlikely. The Cavs would be foolish to offer more than that, however, because right now all of the data suggests LeVert is both not a ceiling-raising starter and not a great fit with this roster. In essence, he is a larger version of Sexton and brings a lot of the same problems to the table.

Next. Cavs sign and trade with Magic could get Collin Sexton paid. dark

If LeVert’s representation would accept something like a three-year, $54 million extension, what do the Cavs do? Unfortunately, given the assets they have already sunk into LeVert and the leaguewide obsessions with big playmakers, he’s more likely than not going to sign something with the Cavs, and fans can only hope it’s just for $54 million.

Pass or Pay? PASS. But the Cavs will probably pay.