Why the Cleveland Cavaliers NEED to keep Caris LeVert

The couple of days after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Game 5 106-95 loss to the New York Knicks, numerous members of the Cavaliers organization sat in front of the media to discuss the future of the team. Questions swirled around trades, coaching, and player perspectives.

One player in particular was the subject of free agency discussions. A Columbus native, Caris LeVert, returned to his home state after a trade in February 2022 between the Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers that sent Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract and a protected first-round pick to the Pacers.

LeVert was first brought to Cleveland to serve the same role that Donovan Mitchell later took, a secondary guard to play next to rising star Darius Garland.

In his career, he has yet to have an opportunity to prove himself, first learning as a young player only to be sidelined with a cancer diagnosis that would keep him from playing for an extended period of time. LeVert, determined to return to basketball, received the necessary medical attention and came back to the league.

His contract ends this summer, and he will enter unrestricted free agency and be able to choose his next destination.

When reporters asked Caris LeVert if he wanted to return to Cleveland this summer, this was his response.

Since then, LeVert has been in and out of the starting lineup, eventually assuming the sixth man role in Cleveland over the regular season. In the first round against the New York Knicks, LeVert eventually returned to the starting five as the Cavs attempted to find an answer to the Knicks.

In short, his time with the Cavaliers has been full of experimentation at no fault of his own. The inconsistency at the starting wing position was the lingering question and most apparent weak point for the Cavs rotation all year.

Although the Cavs season was cut short in disappointing fashion, both the organization and LeVert appear to be on the same page, barring a catastrophic negotiation.

Why should Cleveland bring back a player who could not be the answer at the three? Is it a waste of money as the team’s cap sheet continues to grow more and more expensive?

The Cavaliers need to find the right deal to bring LeVert back on a long term deal.

Firstly, he is the ideal bench leader.

LeVert is the perfect bench leader

Though LeVert’s performance tended also to be inconsistent throughout the season, scoring 41 one night and two the next, he remained focused on defending whoever he was assigned to and played each offensive possession with determination. He averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 assists, and 3.8 rebounds with a 51.7% eFG (effective field goal percentage).

His varied output has led to a myriad of opinions on his fit with the Cavaliers, polarizing the fanbase at times. Many called for LeVert to be dealt before the trade deadline, while others argued that he was too valuable to lose. Both factions have rational arguments behind their position, but as it seems right now, the Cavaliers have taken the latter perspective.

In reality, Caris LeVert’s production is typical of a role player in his situation. Bench players are rarely going to produce consistently high numbers or lead a team’s overall success. Within his role, LeVert has served the Cavaliers readily at any given moment, taking on hard matchups and elevating his hustle when things looked rough. That kind of mindset and effort is exactly what the Cavaliers need right now, and they should not give up on that.

Assuming that Cleveland makes more decisive moves this offseason than just re-signing Caris LeVert, then retaining LeVert only adds another solid player to the team’s rotation. While LeVert is not a star player that can lead you to the NBA Finals year after year, he is a willing player who fits into Cleveland’s backcourt when either Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell need to rest.

Additionally, LeVert shot 39.2% from behind the arc on 4.4 attempts per game, totaling 127 three-pointers made over his 74 regular season games played. LeVert ranked third overall in three-pointers made, behind only Donovan Mitchell’s historic 245 and Darius Garland’s 169.

For a team perpetually struggling to stretch the floor, a valuable long range shooter with serviceable playmaking and defense cannot be lost for nothing in return. His skill set is perfect to lead the Cavaliers bench and give them a fighting chance every night.

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.