With news of the Indiana Pacers strongly considering a rebuild, there have been plenty of hypothetical NBA trade scenarios discussed involving the players mentioned as possible trade chips. Two-time All-Star Domantas Sabonis, Myles Turner and Caris LeVert were mentioned as players that could be on the move.
Only two of those three are likely to be moved, as the Pacers are going to hold onto one of Sabonis or Turner. It is relatively easy to pick out which teams could be interested in acquiring those big men, but it is not as easy to pick out a landing spot for LeVert.
Sabonis has extended periods of All-Star level performance while Turner is an elite rim protector with an expanding offensive game. LeVert, on the other hand, might not have as big of a market.
He has a laundry list of injury concerns, as he started this season on the shelf with a back injury. That likely plays a part in his struggles this season, as he is in the midst of the worst shooting season of his career.
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Despite that, there is one team that could be a perfect match for the Indiana Pacers in a trade; the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Indiana likes Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton, who is going to miss the remainder of the season after suffering a meniscus injury.
“Indiana, sources said, likes the Cavs’ injury guard Collin Sexton as a “terrific scorer,” though the Pacers have not yet brought him up in the discussions they’ve had with Cleveland’s executives.”
So, there have been some trade discussions between the two teams, likely centered around LeVert. Despite his shooting struggles this season, LeVert is the exact kind of player that the Cavaliers would be targeting to upgrade their roster.
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Cleveland lacks a big, scoring guard, which LeVert is. He would provide some secondary playmaking as well, something the team lost with Sexton on the shelf. The Michigan product is a little older than the Cavaliers’ core but he would certainly fill a need in the lineup.
This could be a swap that benefits both sides. Indiana would cash in on LeVert, acquiring a 22-year old in Collin Sexton that averaged 24.3 points per game last season.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, meanwhile, would push to cement their status as playoff contenders in the Eastern Conference, adding a young veteran to a budding young core that is ahead of schedule when it comes to playoff contention.
