Pacers Eye Pick, Player For Caris LeVert As Cavs Still Linked To Possible Deal

January 17, 2022

With the Feb. 10 trade deadline just a few weeks away, the Caris LeVert rumors are more rampant than ever.

And it appears the Cavaliers remain among the teams most interested in making a deal.

As we relayed last week, the Cavs have been eyeing Indiana’s guard/forward since the news of his availability started making the rounds in early December. What Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman would be willing to surrender, however, remains to be seen.

Per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, the Pacers are seeking a first-round draft pick and a young player for LeVert. Scotto also relayed that the Cavs are a “team to watch,” citing a HoopsHype podcast with Cleveland.com reporter Chris Fedor.

“Cleveland has all of its first-round picks to dangle, young players such as Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and Dylan Windler, and the expiring contract of Ricky Rubio as trade bait,” Scotto wrote.

LeVert, 27, is 6-foot-6 and is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.3 rebounds. The Cavs would really like to add more explosiveness in the backcourt, and LeVert undoubtedly fits the description.

He’s not an All-Star, but he can get buckets and theoretically still has plenty of good years left. He is also still capable of scoring 20-25 a night, as he averaged a career-high 20.7 points last season.

LeVert played for the Nets from 2016-21, and was part of the four-team trade with the Rockets, Cavs and Pacers that sent James Harden to the Nets a year ago. That trade also sent center Jarrett Allen to the Cavs.

So the Cavs having an interest undoubtedly makes sense, as they have lost Collin Sexton (16.0 ppg) and Ricky Rubio (13.5) for the season to knee injuries. They have yet to be able to replace the scoring of either, though there is still time from some of the younger players on the roster to fill such a void.

If not, LeVert may be just the type of player they need to keep their good thing going. They won’t say that publicly, but you can bank on the Cavs already knowing it.

The 76ers, Raptors, Kings, Hawks and Nuggets are among others said to be interested in pursuing a LeVert deal.