NEWSLETTER
The Cleveland Cavaliers have made a big move.
With season-ending injuries to Collin Sexton and Ricky Rubio, rumors have swirled that the Cavs would look to add wing scoring for their playoff push. Now, four days out from the trade deadline, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the organization has acquired Caris LeVert.
In exchange, the Indiana Pacers will receive an injured Ricky Rubio, a 2022 lottery-protected first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick via Houston, and a 2027 second-round pick via Utah.
Full trade: Indiana sends Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick via Miami to Cleveland for Ricky Rubio, lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick via Houston and a 2027 second-round pick via Utah, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2022
This is likely the start of a dramatic trade deadline makeover for the Indiana roster. Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis are among key players who remain in trade talks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2022
This could just be the beginning of a massive deadline for the Pacers, who still have coveted big men Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis on the trading block, per Wojnarowski.
As for the Cavaliers, LeVert fills a pretty significant area of need, providing a versatile scoring threat who has averaged 18.7 points and 4.4 assists over his 39 games this season. He’ll help add some much-needed scoring depth to an offense that currently ranks 18th in the NBA and averages only the 23rd-most points per game. The Bulls know how effective LeVert can be when asked to simply hunt the bottom of the net, as he dropped a ridiculous 42 points on 19-26 from the field on Friday night.
Cleveland sits with a 32-21 record and 4th in the Eastern Conference. Already the 3rd-best defensive team in the NBA, LeVert’s addition should not only help balance out the roster, but it should demonstrate that the Cavs are all-in on battling for a top playoff seed. Only 1.5 games separate the top-4 teams, and this might be an important reminder for the Bulls that improving around the margins could be necessary this deadline. Got to keep up.
