Cleveland Cavaliers acquire Caris LeVert in trade with Indiana Pacers

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The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Indiana Pacers guard Caris LeVert in a trade, sources told ESPN on Sunday, making a significant addition to one of the Eastern Conference’s most promising young rosters.

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, which is expected to be in the 30s. The Cavaliers are also sending a 2027 second-round draft pick via the Utah Jazz.

LeVert provides the Cavaliers — one of the league’s surprise teams — with a much-needed scorer with the ability to reach the edge. LeVert is averaging 18.7 points this season, including a 42-point performance against Chicago on Friday.

The Pacers begin what should be a roster revamp, with big men Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner leading 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 under 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 out for the season with an ACL injury.

LeVert joins former Brooklyn Nets teammate Jarrett Allen with the Cavs. The two were part of James Harden’s four-team trade a year ago. Allen has become a force at center for the Cavaliers this season, and LeVert should make an impact as a player who ranks among the league’s top 10 goal scorers on trips to the basket – a category Cleveland entered Sunday ranked 29th. of the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle informed LeVert late Sunday afternoon that the trade was in progress. LeVert missed 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 into 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, which will make him eligible for an extension. Cleveland is expected to want to sign LeVert and his agent, CAA Basketball co-manager Austin Brown, to a long-term extension this offseason.

ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks contributed to this report.

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