Cavaliers Strike Before Deadline, Aquire Caris LeVert from Indy
If 29 other NBA opponents weren’t sure how committed the Cavaliers were about taking this season to the next level – now they know.
Days before the official Trade Deadline, the Wine & Gold added some serious firepower to a young roster that’s already surged to the upper reaches of the Eastern Conference – acquiring veteran swingman Caris LeVert in a deal with the Pacers, sending guard Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick (via Houston) and 2027 second-round pick (via Utah) in return.
Cleveland has continued finding new ways to win – including a barnburner over the squad LeVert rolled into the arena with on Sunday – and with the pugnacious young Cavs (33-21) sitting just a single game out of the top spot in the East, now 54 games into the season, GM Koby Altman saw a golden opportunity to make the move.