LeVert's value?

Post #1 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 4:23 pm

So LeVert is having a career season. Leads the league in net rating, and is even in the conversation for 6MOY. Unfortunately, he's expiring, Mobley's extension kicks in next summer, and I don’t see the Cavs being able to retain him. Ty Jerome's emergence has made LeVert a bit of a luxury.

Cavs need to take back about $2M less in salary in order to duck the tax and start the repeater tax next season rather than this one. That's a priority. We could use a credible backup 5/4 so we're not forced to stagger Allen and Mobley against certain matchups.

Post #2 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:01 pm

I mean the net rating thing is he plays on a loaded team.... But he's a solid player. I would think you could turn him into a playable big making slightly less without too much trouble. Complicated a bit by how many teams have apron issues and it sounds like you want an expiring contract back.

Still that should be doable. Might take a 3rd team to take on some salary for the team taking LeVert and depending on the quality of the big you get back, Cleveland may need to kick in some cash/2nd to help pay for that.

Godaddycurse · Post #3 » by **Godaddycurse** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:05 pm

Houston could use him. Adams + 2nds?

Post #4 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:06 pm

I don't know that the player coming back really needs to be expiring so long as the contract is fair value. The difference between LeVert on a new deal and a credible backup 5/4 will likely be $10M per and that would likely be the difference between being in the apron, or not.

Post #5 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:08 pm

Cool. That opens up some more possibilities then.

JMAC3 · Post #6 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:09 pm

If Cleveland attached a few 2nds along with LeVert maybe Obi Toppin.

JMAC3 · Post #7 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:10 pm

Maybe Grant Williams for Levert swap.

Post #8 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:12 pm

Godaddycurse wrote:Houston could use him. Adams + 2nds?

Don't hate it, but I haven't seen enough from Adams this season to know whether he's got anything left in the tank.

Post #9 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:13 pm

JMAC3 wrote:If Cleveland attached a few 2nds along with LeVert maybe Obi Toppin.

I wouldn't be interested in that. I'm not a fan of Toppins on his new contract and he's certainly not a 5.

Post #10 » by **jbk1234** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:14 pm

JMAC3 wrote:Maybe Grant Williams for Levert swap.

Come on.

Niko23 · Post #11 » by **Niko23** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:17 pm

What do you think he will command on the open market? I would like to try and keep him and get rid of George, but I realize thats taking another big away and not sure if the numbers would work to keep him.

psman2 · Post #12 » by **psman2** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:20 pm

Career year is a little bit of a stretch when he is playing the least minutes and scoring the lowest of his career since his rookie year. And Net rating is fine, but on a team that is playing so well it is not going to be weighted that much versus being a net 0 on/off for his career.

Expirings and 2nds would be my guess. I lot of teams could use him in the role that Cleveland has him in right now. Maybe via a 3/4 team deal you could net something like Boucher/filler and a 2nd and dodge the tax.

Ell Curry · Post #13 » by **Ell Curry** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:20 pm

Maybe this structure? Clips don't get under the tax this year, but could re-sign Levert and still be close to getting under the tax next year, and with the added guard/wing depth, they could presumably move Terrence Mann and get under the tax that way.

Clippers - Levert
Team X - PJ Tucker
Cavs - Team X guy
Team Y with MLE space - Bones Hyland

If he makes 2.5M less than Levert, Cavs duck the tax.

Old friend Larry Nance JR and the Hawks get 2nds from both teams? Olynyk?

JMAC3 · Post #14 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:22 pm

jbk1234 wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:If Cleveland attached a few 2nds along with LeVert maybe Obi Toppin.

I wouldn't be interested in that. I'm not a fan of Toppins on his new contract and he's certainly not a 5.

You just said Levert is going to get a pay raise, he isn't worth very much.

Straight up Levert probably is worth 2 2nd round picks right now.

JMAC3 · Post #15 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:25 pm

JVando from the Lakers fits what you are asking for, but I assume you wouldn't be interested.

LeVert just doesn't have the value that you likely think he does.

Post #16 » by **Texas Chuck** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:28 pm

JMAC3 wrote:JVando from the Lakers fits what you are asking for, but I assume you wouldn't be interested.

LeVert just doesn't have the value that you likely think he does.

Maybe. But why would you suggest Cleveland trade him for an injured player? You do realize they are a legit championship contender on a 70 win pace. They would not subtract a rotation player to address next year's depth.

mg · Post #17 » by mg » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:31 pm

Clips or Nugs could use him in the same role off their bench but neither have useful contracts to trade.

The Lakers could maybe deal someone like Rui but filling the backup center role is probably their biggest need too. Vanderbilt could potentially play some 4/5 but doubt Cavs would want his contract (not to mention his injury situation).

Maybe Detroit but the age and contract really don't appear to be a fit for the Pistons.

I'm guessing it would likely need to be a convoluted 3-4 team trade in order to get a useful player back.

Post #18 » by **gswhoops** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:31 pm

I mean LeVert is what he is at this point. I don't think his value has increased dramatically because he's having a good season in a smaller role on a loaded team.

Look at what Dennis Schroder returned, for example. Teams aren't going to be overly swayed by a ~30 game sample when a guy's in his ninth year in the league.

JMAC3 · Post #19 » by **JMAC3** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:35 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:JVando from the Lakers fits what you are asking for, but I assume you wouldn't be interested.

LeVert just doesn't have the value that you likely think he does.

Maybe. But why would you suggest Cleveland trade him for an injured player? You do realize they are a legit championship contender on a 70 win pace. They would not subtract a rotation player to address next year's depth.

I don't think LeVert is really all that important to the Cavs now that Struss is back.
Struss, Jerome and Okoro could eat up his minutes no problem.

psman2 · Post #20 » by **psman2** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 5:38 pm

JMAC3 wrote:
Texas Chuck wrote:
JMAC3 wrote:JVando from the Lakers fits what you are asking for, but I assume you wouldn't be interested.

LeVert just doesn't have the value that you likely think he does.

Maybe. But why would you suggest Cleveland trade him for an injured player? You do realize they are a legit championship contender on a 70 win pace. They would not subtract a rotation player to address next year's depth.

I don't think LeVert is really all that important to the Cavs now that Struss is back.
Struss, Jerome and Okoro could eat up his minutes no problem.

Big gap from not all that important, likely worth 2nds. To then offering a bunch of guys with negative trade value and injured.