Report: Cavaliers were ‘wary’ of losing Caris LeVert in free agency this offseason

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the Cleveland Cavaliers were “wary” of losing Caris LeVert in free agency this offseason. 

LeVert becomes an unrestricted free agent this offseason. 

The Cavaliers traded LeVert and Georges Niang to the Atlanta Hawks for De’Andre Hunter. 

“Both teams ultimately felt they improved their long-term circumstances, while the Cavaliers, sources say, were wary of losing LeVert in free agency this coming offseason,” Fischer wrote.

The Cavaliers moved forward with the Hunter trade after the Hawks lowered their original asking price. 

“Cleveland officials, sources say, only moved forward with the deal for Hunter when the Hawks dropped their original asking price of multiple first-round picks,” Fischer wrote. “If the draft compensation demands hadn’t dropped and if the ultimate trade framework didn’t help both Atlanta and Cleveland get under the tax threshold, it’s unlikely that the trade would have gotten done.”

The Cavaliers have the top record in the East. They are first in the NBA in points per game and offensive rating. 

Cleveland looks like a legitimate title contender for the first time in the second post-LeBron James era.

With Hunter, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley leading the way, the sky is the limit for the Cavaliers, who are second in the NBA in net rating. 

“I think our camaraderie is just really taking us over the top right now,” Garland told Basketball Insiders. “We’ve been around each other for about two-to-three years now, so we have some years under our belt. We’re really familiar with each other on and off the floor, which makes it a lot easier, especially because we bond off the floor so much.”

Hunter has appeared in 24 games with the Cavaliers. He’s averaging 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks. 

LeVert has played for the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Cavaliers and Hawks. He has career averages of 13.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.