Cleveland Cavaliers Receive: G Caris LeVert, F Oshae Brissett
Indiana Pacers Receive: G Ricky Rubio, F Dylan Windler, CLE 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected), MIL 2025 2nd Round Pick (via CLE)
The Cleveland Cavaliers could very well be like the Atlanta Hawks from a season ago and find their way to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, Darius Garland and the two 7-footers in the frontcourt need some extra help.
Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio are done for the year, which is why a pure scorer on the wing like Caris LeVert, who can also take pressure off of Garland to be this team’s primary facilitator, makes a ton of sense.
Cleveland has shown interest in Caris LeVert in recent weeks, but the asking price the Indiana Pacers have set on him is very high. According to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto, Indiana is looking for at least one first-round pick and a good young talent.
To trade LeVert, it is possible that Cleveland could want Isaac Okoro, a former first-round pick with two-way potential on the wing, but they would be getting forward Dylan Windler in this deal, along with a salary-filler in Ricky Rubio and two draft picks.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest On Cavs’ Trade Pursuit Of Caris LeVert, Eric Gordon
Caris LeVert is now in his 6th NBA season and oftentimes seems to be forgotten by the rest of the league. Since the start of the 2019-20 season though, LeVert has been a very effective offensive-minded talent, averaging 19.0 points, 4.2 rebounds and shooting 43.4% from the floor.
His career 33.4% shooting percentage from three-point range is a little concerning, but LeVert is great at attacking the basket and opening up space on the perimeter for others.
By being able to score at the rim at a high-level, Caris LeVert draws a lot of attention on the drive, opening up space for not only Cleveland’s big to collapse in the paint for second-chance opportunities, but allow guys like Garland and Osman to be effective, high-level shooters on the perimeter.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Latest On Cavs’ Trade Pursuit Of Caris LeVert, Eric Gordon
The Pacers need to take a step back at the trade deadline and try to get any kind of value they can for guys like Caris LeVert and Myles Turner. Both players have just one more year left on their contracts, which could result in the Pacers losing value should they hit free agency and sign elsewhere.
Getting draft picks and a young talent for LeVert could very well be enough for the Pacers to go ahead and make this trade before the trade deadline on Thursday.