Could Cavs trade Caris LeVert to Heat for an elite shooter?

Could Cavs trade Caris LeVert to Heat? Why Heat might do it

The Miami Heat are masters of developing their own players, and the system running from their G League team to their roster is the best in the league. Duncan Robinson is one such success story, a guy who went undrafted but proved himself at the lower levels and eventually earned a $90 million contract.

That success means it’s reasonable for the Heat to think they can find his replacement, too. Max Strus took Robinson’s place in the rotation late last season as the Heat felt he brought a better mix of shooting and defense. Strus, along with other players on the roster such as Gabe Vincent and Omer Yurtseven, were unheralded prospects who blossomed with the Heat.

The skill hardest to find on the scrap heap is on-ball creation, and for all of his other shortcomings LeVert is skilled with the ball in his hands, at finding his own shot and making plays for others. As Kyle Lowry ages the Heat will be in the market for someone to start taking on ball-handling responsibilities, and LeVert could be the answer. Whether he starts with Tyler Herro coming off the bench, or vice versa, he can help the offense while being insulated defensively due to the presence of Lowry or Vincent alongside him.

It’s not a perfect fit, and would offer some of the same issues that the Cavs are processing with he and Sexton, but the other benefit here is financial. LeVert is on an expiring contract; the Heat gain flexibility in flipping him as part of a larger trade (a rebuilding team adding an expiring deal is better than four years of Robinson) or as insurance if they move Herro in such a move. If they want to bring LeVert back, great; if not, they can pivot to using that cap space next summer.