Caris LeVert, Traded By Pacers, Thrilled To Come To Cavs

The Cavaliers agreed to a trade with the Pacers that will send guard/forward Caris LeVert to Cleveland, as first reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.In exchange, the Cavs are sending the expiring contract of Ricky Rubio, their 2022 first-round pick to the Pacers, as well as their 2022 and 2027 second-rounders.

LeVert is “thrilled” to join “an emerging contender” such as the Cavs, per Wojnarowski. “He gives Cleveland a significant wing player who’ll be eligible for an extension this summer,” Woj noted.

LeVert played with Cavs center Jarrett Allen while the two were members of the Nets. Sources say the two are excited to reunite.

Meanwhile, the Cavs are excited to receive LeVert without having to give up a key player from their rotation, or two first-rounders, as Indiana was said to be seeking.

LeVert, 27, is 6-foot-6 ad averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds. He is coming off a 42-point performance in a loss to the Bulls on Friday. He scored 26 the game before that.

LeVert will join Darius Garland in the Cleveland backcourt this season, and presumably Garland and Collin Sexton next. Sexton is out for the year following knee surgery and will be a restricted free agent this summer.

The Cavs have every intention to re-sign Sexton, but as one rival GM told Hoops Wire, “(A trade for LeVert) may open the door for a Sexton sign-and-trade, though I hear that’s not their intention right now.”

LeVert is a native of Columbus and played high school ball at Pickerington Central. 

Meanwhile, Rubio suffered a season-ending knee injury in early December that made him expendable. Before that, he was a major boost to the Cavs in his lone season, offering veteran guidance and averaging a career-high 13.5 points.

The Pacers aren’t likely to try to sign him in free agency this summer. But even if not, Rubio isn’t expected to return to the Cavs, sources say.