While the Cavaliers aren’t looking to shake up their suddenly successful core, they do have their sights set on some help in the backcourt, as Hoops Wire relayed last week.
And according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Pacers guard/forward Caris LeVert is at the top of the Cavs’ list ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.
The Cavs have also been in touch with the Magic about available guard/forward Terrence Ross, as Hoops Wire first reported, as well as with the Rockets about guard Eric Gordon, Fedor added.
Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington and Nets guard/forward Joe Harris are also said to be among the Cavs’ potential targets.
But again, Cavs such as Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen and rookie Evan Mobley are considered especially off limits. Nor are the Cavs intending to move the likes of Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Love, Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman or even injured guard Collin Sexton.
That pretty much leaves the expiring contact of injured Ricky Rubio and their 2022 first-round pick (which, right now, sits in the Nos. 22-25 range).
Meanwhile, the Pacers are believed to be seeking two first-rounders in any deal for LeVert.
“If the Cavs were to set sights higher — Ben Simmons, Jerami Grant, Buddy Hield, Joe Harris, Bogdan Bogdanovic or Derrick White — opposing executives would likely want either Sexton or Okoro, if not both,” Fedor wrote. “Hard to see the Cavs going that way. It would be too disruptive.”
Overall, again, the Cavs’ mission is to land help while keeping their rotation of the top eight-to-10 players intact. Given the assets they have, such a feat isn’t viewed as an impossibility around the league.
As Fedor mentioned, salary cap considerations will also come into play when it comes to whether the Cavs make a move.
“LeVert, Gordon, and Ross are all under contract for at least one more season beyond 2021/22, which perhaps increases their appeal for the Cavs, who wouldn’t want to give up any significant assets for a rental,” wrote Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors.
For more on the Cavs and their trade possibilities, check out the latest podcast right here or my weekly spot on Sports 4 CLE on Cleveland.com right here.
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
Yeah LaVert has a nice pace about him, patient, all around player, unselfish, can score from all over, I think he’s a good fit on this team.
Hield is wasting away in Sac I would love to see him in the playoffs. With Cavs wouldn’t bother me.
Here is my trade proposal to get Levert:
Cavs:
Rubio
Cedi
Windler
Top 3 protected 1st this year
2nd next season
Cavs receive:
Levert
TJ Warren
Future second
Pacers would dump $20 million in salaries in the off-season and pick up a first and Cedi.
Cavs get a CONSISTENT scorer in TJ off the bench and if he does not work out we save some cap space. Levert would be a major pick-up….starting two for the next two seasons. Hopefully he would get extended.
Maybe Okoro can turn into our version of Iggy off the bench.