Sources: Cavs pick up LeVert in trade with Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert in a trade, sources told ESPN on Sunday, making a significant addition to one of the most promising young rosters in the Eastern Conference.
LeVert goes to the Cavaliers with a 2022 second-round pick via Miami for Ricky Rubio‘s expiring contract, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks, sources said.
The Pacers will acquire a 2022 second-round draft pick via Houston that is likely to be in the low 30s. The Cavaliers are also sending a 2027 second-round pick via the Utah Jazz.
LeVert provides the Cavaliers — one of the surprise teams in the league — a much-needed scorer with the ability to get to the rim. LeVert is averaging 18.7 points this season, including a 42-point performance against Chicago on Friday.
The Pacers are beginning what is expected to be a roster makeover, with big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner prominent in trade talks. Rubio’s expiring contract (worth $17.8 million) will drop the Pacers to $94 million in payroll this offseason and move them $26 million below the cap. The Pacers join the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and San Antonio Spurs among teams with significant cap space in free agency. Rubio is lost for the season with an ACL injury.
LeVert joins former Brooklyn Nets teammate Jarrett Allen with the Cavs. The two were a part of the four-team James Harden trade a year ago. Allen has emerged as a force at center for the Cavaliers this season, and LeVert is expected to make an impact as a player who ranks among the top 10 scorers in the league on drives to the basket — a category in which Cleveland entered Sunday ranked 29th in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Indiana coach Rick Carlisle informed LeVert in the late afternoon Sunday that the trade was happening. LeVert sat out Indiana’s 98-85 loss to the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Sunday night.
The Cavaliers are 33-21, just one game behind the Miami Heat for first place in the Eastern Conference. LeVert, 27, fits well in a young roster that includes first-time All-Star guard Darius Garland, Rookie of the Year favorite Evan Mobley and Allen.
LeVert will enter the final year of his contract at $18.8 million next season, making him extension eligible. It’s expected that Cleveland will want to engage LeVert and his agent, Austin Brown, the co-head of CAA Basketball, on a long-term extension in the offseason.
ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.