Caris LeVert is putting it together, and is helping case for Cavs’ future

Earlier this season, Caris LeVert looked to very well be a key trade piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he was mentioned in rumors throughout the season. He’s currently on an expiring deal, and could’ve been a useful trade asset.

LeVert was not ultimately dealt by the Cavaliers, though, and despite some ups and downs as a scorer, as the season has worn on, he’s found ways to contribute on multiple fronts.

Sure, 11.9 points per contest is not nearly what he had for the Indiana Pacers, the club that dealt him to Cleveland near the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline. LeVert’s had issues finishing on shots inside the three-point line for much of this season, too, as he’s converted on a career-low 45.0 percent from two thus far this season.

There’s still stretches where LeVert looks to be out-of-sync within set offense with the Cavaliers, particularly when he’s sharing the floor with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. He can be proned to forcing it a bit as well, which can lead to disrupted flow within the Cavs’ offense, or he can be overzealous with some passes.

All of that being said, LeVert has been far more viable defensively this season than many, including myself, probably would’ve anticipated. The playmaking help he’s provided, whether he’s been a bench contributor (his typical role now) or as a starter, should be given its due, also.

Nonetheless, it’s reasonable to question if LeVert could be a player that’s part of the Cavaliers’ long-term plans. His play as the season has progressed has aided the team more, though, and it appears as if LeVert could definitely be re-signed this upcoming offseason by Cleveland.

Here was more on that topic, per a report from Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, who answered a fan question essentially along the lines of if LeVert will be re-signed this coming offseason or not. He mentioned how keeping LeVert through the deadline wasn’t only about this season, along with that.

"“The LeVert decision wasn’t solely about this season.A free agent at the end of the year, the Cavs are interested in bringing him back on a multi-year deal — at the right price. They like him. They value him. He is one of their trusted high-minute guys — a staple of Bickerstaff’s nightly rotation. Bickerstaff has repeatedly commended LeVert for his unselfishness, sacrifice, character and adaptability. He’s also having his best month — right in time for the postseason.Barring an unexpected summer roster shakeup, the Cavs are projected to be an over-the-cap team. No matter how he performs in the playoffs or whether he is an ideal fit on this roster, they can’t afford to let LeVert — a $19 million player — walk in free agency. With so much money already tied up elsewhere, the Cavs won’t have the means to replace him. Controlling LeVert’s Bird rights allows them to go over the cap to re-sign him.Given everything, at this point, LeVert not returning would be a surprise.”"

LeVert has been putting it together of late, and momentum seems to be building about the Cavs bringing him back.

As Fedor expressed, the Cavaliers hold LeVert in high regard, and as the season has progressed, he has gotten better and found ways to affect games, even with his shooting and scoring inconsistencies.

LeVert has some flaws, surely, and one there’s still questions that’ll have to be answered about how he meshes with the core guys, with the backcourt in mind more so in that realm. And whether LeVert can be a difference-maker in the playoffs is another relevant question.

On a positive note, he has picked up his play of late, and in his past 13 games, he has connected on 43.4 percent of his three-point attempts, on a volume of 4.1 per outing. In that span, he has tacked on 4.2 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 28.3 minutes per appearance as well, and has had a plus-minus of plus-6.5 in that stretch.

Now, looking onward, it’s paramount for LeVert, who has had injury issues often in his career, to stay healthy.

To his credit, he has been for the most part this season, and has played 30.1 minutes per contest, in which he’s registered 66 appearances in 73 possible games, so that’s been encouraging. And it’s imperative that sort of trend continues from here, to reiterate, if he’s potentially a player that sticks around in coming years.

In any case, momentum seems to be building about LeVert likely being re-signed, based on Fedor’s report, the team set to have LeVert’s Bird rights, and with how the wing has been closing out the regular season, offensively and defensively.

Time will tell, but LeVert is feasibly helping his case for securing a future with the Wine and Gold. He’ll be set to enter his age-29 season in 2023-24.