Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

5 players the Cleveland Cavaliers should try trade for and how to get them

By Chad Porto

Feb 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari (8) moves to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dylan Windler (9) during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Danilo Gallinari (8) moves to the basket against Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dylan Windler (9) during the third quarter at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 10: Caris LeVert #22 of the Indiana Pacers dunks during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 10, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – MAY 10: Caris LeVert #22 of the Indiana Pacers dunks during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on May 10, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

4. Caris LeVert

The Pacers fell apart hard this year, and despite having a few good pieces to build upon, the team seems committed to trading away their best young players to start a full-on rebuild. Now, Caris LeVert isn’t the prize of the Pacers fire sale, that would be Domantas Sabonis but the Cavs don’t have the room for him or a need for him. Instead, the Cleveland Cavaliers may be well off getting the youngish LeVert.

He’s an exceptional scorer, except when it comes to the three-point line. His shooting splits for the 2021-2022 season are good, but not great, .447/.323/.760. Though what he lacks in three-point shooting, he makes up for it with his passing. He can average over four assists a game and that has helped him develop a nice offensive RAPTOR score of +2.2.

The issue with LeVert is his defense. He’s got a bad defensive RAPTOR of just -2.6 for the year, though that hasn’t always been the case. While he’s rarely been a great defender, he’s been passable. That inconsistency on that side of the court however is what knocks him down so low.

Now the Cleveland Cavaliers have options to get LeVert. Collin Sexton is an obvious one, so is Cedi Osman, Dylan Windler, and the trade exception for JaVale McGee. If Norman Powell and Robert Convington didn’t get the Trailblazers a first-round pick, the Pacers shouldn’t expect one for LeVert, who is a walking case of what could’ve been. He’s played in just 60% of possible games since entering the league and there’s no reason to expect him to play more than that each year with the Cavs.

The Pacers are getting back a young player that they can re-sign and build around potentially and another young player with untapped potential. That’s pretty fair for a fairly one-dimensional player with injury concerns.

In fact, I may have talked myself out of LeVert.

Home/Cleveland Cavaliers