The Cleveland Cavaliers are for real.
Yesterday, it was reported that the Cavs acquired Guard Caris LeVert from the Indiana Pacers via a trade.
Cleveland traded back a package that included Point Guard Ricky Rubio and a 2022 lottery protected first-round pick.
LeVert is averaging 18.7 Points per Game this season and will add to a young, fearless Cavaliers starting five.
What Was The Full Trade?
Cavaliers Receive: Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick via Miami.
Pacers Receive: Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick via Houston, and a 2027 second-round pick via Utah.
What’s Next for The Cavaliers?
Cleveland — who is fourth in the Eastern Conference, only one game out of first place — will look to make a push for the one seed in the playoffs, and the team wants to make a deep playoff run.
With Collin Sexton out for most likely the entire season due to a torn meniscus, LeVert provides a perfect replacement to keep the Cavaliers contending. Sexton could be moved by Cleveland at the deadline, but only time will tell.
New Starting Five:
- Darius Garland
- Caris LeVert
- Lauri Markkanen
- Evan Mobley
- Jarrett Allen
What’s Next for The Pacers?
Indiana — now 13th in the Eastern Conference with no signs of hope to come — could look to reshape their roster. They have young guys left on their roster that are under contract for multiple more years and are appealing to other teams. For example, Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis are both 25 years old. Turner is under contract for two more years and Sabonis is under contract for three more years, and both contracts are expendable. They could look to acquire multiple first round picks in return and begin down their path of a rebuild.
The emergence of Chris Duarte as a fearless shooter allowed Indiana to part ways with LeVert and go and get another first round pick for next season.
New Starting Five:
- Malcolm Brogdon
- Chris Duarte
- Justin Holiday
- Torrey Craig
- Domantas Sabonis
Who Wins The Trade?
Short Term:
In the short term, Cleveland wins this trade. They added a 27 year old star that is willing to do whatever his team needs in order to win. The trade bolsters Clevelands lineup, gearing them for a potential playoff run.
Long Term:
In the long term, both teams win the trade. Like mentioned earlier, the emergence of Chris Duarte allowed the Pacers to make the trade and he will continue to shine for the Pacers as a top option. The first round pick will allow the Pacers to go and get a young rookie that could blossom into a star. For the Cavaliers, LeVert’s two years left allows the two sides to work out a potential extension to keep him there in the long term.
