Why the Cleveland Cavaliers NEED to keep Caris LeVert

Bringing back LeVert might also be cheaper than signing someone else

From a pragmatic sense, re-signing a majority of players after their contract ends is the right option unless the player hurts the team in the locker room or significantly on the court. The Cleveland Cavaliers have Bird Rights on Caris LeVert, meaning they can offer him more than any other team without actually costing the Cavs their available money to offer other free agents.

Outside of veteran-minimum contracts, Cleveland can only offer a maximum of roughly $12.7 million to free agents this summer, either split up among many or offered all to a single person. For LeVert, though, the Cavaliers can offer him a higher sum per year while still maintaining the roughly Mid-Level Exception of $12.2 million for other free agents.

Additionally, the money available to offer free agents this summer would hardly net the Cavaliers enough talent to make LeVert useless in the following season. Upcoming in the caliber of Kyle Kuzma or other wings will demand upwards of $20 million a year, meaning the Cavaliers will need to find depth through trades and budget options.

LeVert may not be the perfect wing option for a championship roster, but as a backup guard and scoring outlet, there is no downside to keeping LeVert until at least recently-signed players are available for trade in December next season.

In theory, LeVert and the Cavaliers could agree to send him elsewhere this summer via a sign-and-trade; however, this is most commonly the best option for a restricted free agent or superstar talent. Sign-and-trade deals are chaotic for a team’s cap sheet, triggering the hard cap for the organization receiving the sign-and-traded player. Also, LeVert would have the ability to deny any sign-and-trade deal, similar to a no-trade clause. Since LeVert has made it clear he wants to stay in Cleveland, a sign-and-trade is a highly unlikely outcome when LeVert could just sign anywhere he wants if the Cavaliers will not pay him.

In total, LeVert is more than just a “locker room presence” with a high price tag. He has proven his on-court worth to the team and does not limit their free agency options if he signs a reasonably-priced deal.

Unless Caris LeVert and his representation are demanding an outrageous salary per season, then the Cavaliers would be foolish not to maintain LeVert’s bench production.