Grade the Trade: Cavaliers sell high on LeVert in wild pitch

The Cleveland Cavaliers have not had many bright spots this season. They did finally break their losing streak to the Golden State Warriors, and the Opening Night last-second win over the Brooklyn Nets was a rush. Otherwise, the Cavs have largely disappointed amidst injuries and missed shots en route to a 4-6 record, 11th in the Eastern Conference.

The one player who is inarguably playing above expectations is Caris LeVert. The eighth-year guard is averaging 19 points per game, nearly seven more than a year ago, and averaging a whopping 33.1 minutes per game, by far a career-best. He’s not only filled in when Darius Garland has missed time but has worked his way into the closing lineup as well.

Unfortunately, LeVert’s strong play hasn’t been enough to rescue a scuffling offense that is ranked just 19th in the league. He’s attacking the basket with aggression but his outside shot isn’t falling at a high rate; he’s hitting 35.2 percent of his six attempts per game, a fine number but not enough to truly punish opponents going under on screens.

LeVert is playing his best basketball in years and it’s still not enough to carry the Cavs to the heights they need to reach. If he reverts to his previous level of play, his shooting and off-ball deficiencies will only be more of an issue. Does that mean it’s time to sell high on LeVert and trade him for a more proven player with a better outside shot?

That’s the idea behind a recent trade idea pitched on Bleacher Report. Let’s look at the specifics of the trade and discuss whether it’s a deal worth making.