Cavaliers acquire Caris LeVert from Indiana

 Before tonight's game against the Indiana Pacers, the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired guard Caris LeVert from the Pacers in exchange for the expiring contract of Ricky Rubio, the Cavaliers 2022 first-rounder that is lottery-protected in the unlikely event that the Cavaliers don't make the postseason, Houston's 2022 second-round pick and Utah's second-round pick in 2027.

Along with LeVert, Cleveland also obtained Miami's second-rounder in the 2022 draft.

The twenty-seven-year-old LeVert is averaging just under nineteen points for Indiana, shooting forty-four percent from the floor and thirty-two percent from three-point range.

Indiana acquired LeVert last season as their part of the four-team trade that landed James Harden with Brooklyn and Jarrett Allen with the Cavaliers.

LeVert at 6'6 can play small forward and shooting guard but will likely spend more time with Cleveland at the two-guard, although he could play some at the three until the return of Lauri Markkaken to the lineup from his ankle injury.

LeVert was at the top of a small list of shooting guards that were linked to the Cavaliers at the trade deadline and will be under contract through next season at 18.7 million.

As far as the cost goes, the first-rounder is lottery protected as a safeguard and the Cavaliers may have tried to move that pick had they kept it to stay under the cap and its various stipulations,

The second-rounders are a non-factor although the Houston second-rounder that was sent to the Pacers is likely to be a very early pick in that round.

Ricky Rubio's expiring contract opens up space for Indiana and I know the knee injury could be difficult for Rubio to return from but I wouldn't be surprised if the Cavaliers attempted to bring Rubio back as a free agent under an incentive-based contract.

You have to like this deal for the Cavaliers.

I would have wondered about the first-round pick being traded away had the deal been brokered before the season but considering the development of the team this season, I'm not as concerned about that currently.

The contract of Rubio was a sunk cost after his injury and LeVert fits into the salary slot that Rubio filled so that's not going to be an issue even against a potential luxury cap penalty for next season.

There is nothing not to like about this deal except I always hate dealing first-round picks and this time it makes sense to do so.