Regrading the Cavaliers trade for Caris LeVert last season

Regrading Cavaliers trade for LeVert: What hasn’t worked

Caris LeVert was acquired at the deadline, for the cost of a lottery-protected first-round pick and a premium second that ended up being Andrew Nembhard. The reason the Cavaliers pushed that many chips in is that they wanted a player that could help them make the playoffs last season and be a part of their core moving forward.

The first goal was not achieved, in part because LeVert struggled with an ankle injury he sustained almost immediately upon joining the team. Then this season began and LeVert was given first crack at the starting small forward job. That worked while Darius Garland was out with injury, but when everyone was healthy it quickly became clear that he was not the player the Cavs needed in that spot.

The Cavs have used Isaac Okoro, Dean Wade and Lamar Stevens as starters instead, all players who are significantly less expensive than LeVert and ostensibly less talented. The reason is that each can fill off-ball roles in an offensive attack featuring Mitchell and Garland, two of the league’s best with the ball in their hands. Add in Evan Mobley, and LeVert is the fourth option on offense. His off-ball skills are too limited, and his defense too average, for him to make sense with the starters.

While his 3-point shot has fallen at an average clip this year he isn’t adding true value there, and his 2-point shooting has absolutely cratered this year to a career-worst 44.2 percent. He was always going to be best deployed as a Sixth Man off the bench because his value comes from handling the ball as a decent playmaker; the Cavs just don’t have a need for that with Mitchell aboard, as either Mitchell or Garland are on the court at all times.