The Indiana Pacers have been eagerly awaiting the debut of Caris LeVert, who was acquired earlier this season for Victor Oladipo. Following the move, it was found out that LeVert had kidney cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the mass and just a short time later, he is ready to make his debut.
What a whirlwind of emotions this journey has been for LeVert, the Pacers, and the fans. LeVert is the kind of player that could completely change the outlook for this Indiana team moving forward. His return could not come at a better time.
Over the last 10 games, the Pacers are just 4-6 and have dropped to 16-19 on the season. They are currently the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and are out of the playoff picture. Hopefully, LeVert can help them turn things around quickly.
According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Pacers will get their first look at Caris LeVert on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns.
Prior to being traded to the Pacers, LeVert had played in 12 games with the Brooklyn Nets and started in four of those appearances. He was averaging 18.5 points per game to go along with 6.0 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. LeVert had also shot 43.5 percent from the floor and had knocked down 34.9 percent of his three-point attempts.
Being able to head to a team like the Pacers and become a full-time starter is a major plus for LeVert. There have been no reports about any restrictions that he could have immediately upon coming back, but simply having him back on the court is huge.
It will be interesting to see how the Pacers play with LeVert back. They have been needing a player that can create looks for himself and for his teammates. That is exactly what LeVert has proven that he can do throughout his career.
There is no doubt that the Pacers have enough talent to be a contender in the East. Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner, Caris LeVert, Malcolm Brogdon, TJ Warren (who is injured with no timetable for return), Justin Holiday, TJ McConnell, Doug McDermott, and the rest of the crew are a tough team to beat.
Expect to see the Pacers respond well to LeVert returning to the court. They have been excited to welcome him back and it will be fun to watch his return.
