Indiana Pacers: Why a Caris LeVert to Cleveland trade makes sense

For weeks, Indiana Pacers’ guard Caris LeVert has been mentioned in trade rumors. There have been different teams mentioned, but one team that consistently comes up is the Cleveland Cavaliers.

With a season-ending ACL tear to Ricky Rubio and Collin Sexton out indefinitely with a torn meniscus in his left knee, the up-and-coming Cavaliers could use another guard in their backcourt.

After the injury, the Cavaliers did trade for veteran point guard Rajon Rondo, but at this point in his career, Rondo isn’t a comparable replacement for Rubio and Sexton.

The Indiana Pacers have been often listed as sellers this NBA Trade Deadline since they are 19-34 and currently 13th in the Eastern Conference.

Since Bob Kravitz and Shams Charania of The Athletic reported the Indiana Pacers were indeed looking to rebuild (or retool), Caris LeVert’s name has frequently been in NBA trade rumors.

The Cavaliers have been the surprise team of the NBA, as they currently have the 4th best record in the Eastern Conference, the projected Rookie of the Year in Evan Mobley, a young star on the rise in Darius Garland, and the perfect big-man to round out their big-three in Cleveland, Jarret Allen.

This young Cavaliers team is ahead of schedule in regards to where analysts expected them to finish, but with a successful season and a chance to make some noise in the playoffs, the Cavaliers could be buyers at the NBA Trade Deadline.

Why Caris LeVert

Recently, I had on Locked on Cavaliers podcast host, Evan Dammarell to discuss a potential Caris LeVert deal to the Cavaliers. Evan went into detail on why this move has been “the best-known secret in the NBA” and how it just makes too much sense.

The Cavaliers desperately need another ball-handler to add to their roster and someone that can also create a shot for themselves.

LeVert has been an inefficient shooter for the Indiana Pacers, but he has the skillset to play positions 1-3. With Cleveland selecting two point-guards in Sexton and Garland in back-to-back NBA Drafts, it has given Garland time to play off-ball.

Garland will still be the primary ball-handler for this team if they were to acquire LeVert, but because he has the experience of playing off-ball next to Sexton, this could be a seamless fit.

Also, the Brooklyn Nets under Kenny Atkinson exceeded expectations and made it to the playoffs. LeVert and Allen both spent time together in Brooklyn, which would help with not only on-court chemistry but off-court chemistry.

Pairing LeVert and Allen together could be something the Cavaliers look to do as LeVert will need time to jell with his new teammates.

With the injuries to Rubio and Sexton, there is just a glaring hole at the secondary ball-handler role on this team. Rondo can fill in for you in spots, but he is not close to the level of talent that LeVert is.

Cleveland’s Assets

The reason Indiana could be intrigued by a Cleveland trade package is because of the numerous amount of assets they could send back in a trade.

First and foremost, they have the expiring contract of Ricky Rubio that would most certainly need to be in a deal for LeVert for salary purposes.

They also have two young players that could potentially be available in this trade, but it would more than likely only be one and not both. Those two players are guard Collin Sexton, who is out indefinitely and will be a restricted free agent next season, and Isaack Okoro, the Cavaliers’ 5th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.

The last major asset the Cavaliers have is draft picks. Cleveland owns their first overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, they acquired the Rocket’s second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and they also acquired the San Antonio Spurs’ second-round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Cleveland can offer Indiana a nice package of assets for LeVert, but it all depends on what the Pacers are willing to take back in exchange and if Cleveland can match the Pacers’ asking price.

Trade Framework

It appears that the Cavaliers have no issue offering Ricky Rubio and their first-round pick for Caris LeVert, but the Indiana Pacers have been reported/rumored to have asked for a young player and a 1st-round-pick for Caris LeVert.

The reason a deal hasn’t been done yet between these two teams is simply Cleveland hoping the asking price for LeVert comes down by February 10, 2022, and they also want to see what other players they could add other than LeVert, especially if they can make a move that might not cost them as much.

Indiana is looking to add back a young player with this LeVert trade, and I think Isaac Okoro makes perfect sense. Okoro is known for his defensive presence and one of Indiana’s biggest weaknesses is its perimeter defense.

If Indiana can somehow acquire Okoro, Rubio, and a first for Caris LeVert that is a slam dunk trade. This would allow the Pacers the ability to shed salary (Rubio’s expiring) heading into the offseason, while also being able to acquire a young talent that could help Indiana down the line.

Salary-wise, the Pacers would need to add more money to the trade to make it work financially, without going into the luxury tax. Insert Justin Holiday, a veteran wing who can shoot and is a solid defender.

The Indiana Pacers have been reported/rumored to be asking for two-second-round picks for Justin Holiday, so I think Indiana could easily ask Cleveland for one of their coveted second-round picks, whether it be from Houston or San Antonio.

The Houston second-round pick will be closer to the top of the second round, so Cleveland might want to hold onto that, especially if they’re willing to move on from their first-round pick, which looks to be in the back half of the NBA Draft.

So the final trade offer would look like this: Caris LeVert and Justin Holiday to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Ricky Rubio, Isaac Okoro, a 2022 first-round pick from Cleveland, and a 2022 second-round-pick from San Antonio.

Would Each Team Do It?

Making this trade would help Cleveland not only for the remainder of this season but for the future as well. LeVert does have a lengthy injury history, but on this roster, I think Cleveland’s defensive frontcourt would mask his limitations on that end of the ball and allow him to maximize his offensive abilities.

Whether he is playing alongside Darius Garland or playing with a combination of the Cavaliers’ second unit.

Justin Holiday would be a seamless fit for this group, as he is a movement shooter who plays well off of other offensive creators. His defense is much better than LeVert’s, so being able to add that veteran presence to your locker room would be a plus.

For Indiana, the ship has sailed with Caris LeVert, even though it would be less than a full-calendar-year if this deal happened with Cleveland on or before February 10th. The Indiana Pacers could easily waive Rubio’s expiring contract and that would allow for an open roster spot.

Adding Okoro to the mix for the remainder of the season would allow Carlisle to see what he has in the talented, second-year player. Okoro is big enough, that at times he could play the small-forward position, and that might be ideal if Indiana has plans to continue starting Chris Duarte.

Duarte and Isaiah Jackson were both drafted for their defense and upside, so adding Okoro into the mix with these two young players could help sure up the Pacers’ atrocious defensive numbers, especially if they move on from Turner either at the deadline or in the offseason.

Adding two picks as well in this trade is something that can help Indiana come draft day. With Carlisle coaching this roster, we know the goal is to win and get in the playoffs next season.

This year we have seen a countless number of young players step up for the shorthanded Pacers, but the win column shows how important it is to have a mix of young players and established players.

Indiana needs to continue adding better talent to their roster to help them achieve the goals they have. These extra picks could be used as sweeteners in any draft-day trade, similar to what we saw Indiana do last season when trading for Isaiah Jackson.

Overall Thoughts

I could seriously see this deal getting done at 2:50 PM on February 10th. However, I think Cleveland may want to hold onto the second-round picks for similar reasons to why the Indiana Pacers would want to acquire it.

Cleveland has a young team, so they don’t need to get younger. Indiana is a team that is trying to rebuild on the fly, and this deal would allow them to do that, however, they would need to make more moves within the current roster to overcome their weaknesses.

If the trade got stalled by a lousy second-round pick, I can see why both fan bases would be livid if this deal didn’t go through. If Cleveland is threatening to take a smaller offer, for maybe someone like Eric Gordon, because Indiana demanded the San Antonio second-round pick, I would gladly accept Rubio, Okoro, and a first for LeVert and Holiday.

Indiana loves to acquire players with potential that their current team might be willing to move on from. With Okoro’s defensive upside, I think Carlisle and the front office would be highly intrigued.

This isn’t the move that is going to restore your franchise, but it is a move that could get you headed in the right direction that fans will talk about positively for years to come.