[WOJ] Cleveland is acquiring Caris Levert in a trade for Ricky Rubio, '22 1st and 2 2nds

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

Gilbert loves to make these types of moves the moment he sniffs the playoffs. Jiri Welsch, Mozgov, LeVert.

I mean if LeVert works out as well Mozgov did in 2015, I'll be thrilled.

If he works out as well as mozgov did, then Altman deserves GM of the year for this trade.

Actually, nah. Clippers still committed highway robbery in that trade with the blazers. Their GM can have the award.

Is this sarcasm? The Cavs gave up 2 1sts for Mozgov and he was benched within 12 months of the acquisition, and got DNP-CD in multiple playoff games before walking in FA after 1.5 years.

[Mrakar]

Essentially a pick in the mid 20s range + two seconds. 2022 draft looks very meh. Deal is not great but not bad. LeVert has been inefficient thus far in his career but maybe he can change that in a more limited role.

Cleveland has quietly accumulated quite a bit of young talent on their roster. Mobley, Garland, Sexton, LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Okoro...really like what their GM has done, with a little more internal development from Garland/Mobley they could become contenders next year.

I agree the deal is kind of meh. Gave up a couple nice assets for a guy who doesn't put them over the top. Though, I wonder if the Cavs are going to surprise people and immediately go from build mode to win-now mode all at once, and this was the first domino.

This is spitballing, but could they do something now that is completely off the radar, like say trying to make an offer for Bradley Beal? They can offer Sexton/Okoro/Markannen (young talent they have accumulated) along with future picks (taking most protection off of them) to try to entice the Wizards (I don't see a way they could take on Bertans, though, which probably would make something like this more realistic).

It's probably a pipedream, but a lineup of:

1. Garland
2. Beal
3. Levert
4. Mobley
5. Allen

6. Love

Then still having Rondo/Goodwin/Cedi/Dean Wade/Lamar Stevens on the bench looks to me like a championship lineup, not only this year but for the forseeeable future if they would be able to resign Beal.

Prime Olajuwon and Garnett couldn't compensate enough for that awfull defensive trio...

[Johnny Bball]

Trading for Levert is not a win is all I know. The guy plays about half the year and he already has played half this year.

[HotelVitale]

By that logic isn't the Cavs FRP, which will be a late 1st, basically an early 2nd?
So it's still a 1st and a 2nd, basically

I mean you can look at it however you like. As things currently stand, it’s a 3 way tie for 22/23/24th pick + 33rd pick. Pretty damn good haul for Indiana

Seems like fair value to me.

Levert was the 20th pick in the draft and he now should be in the prime of his career in a position Cleveland needs now.

Indiana will probably get a mid-to-late 20's pick and an early-to-mid 30's pick in this coming draft. They probably have a 50/50 chance of drafting a player with those assets who in a few years will be equal or better to Levert.

Hmm statistically speaking I don’t think the chances of getting someone as good as Levert with a mid to late pick and a mid to late 30s pick are anywhere close to 50/50. If that were the case—and you could plan on getting a solid starter with your #27 pick and a 2nd rounder you bought at any time—picks would be far more valuable and team construction would look way different. Don’t have time to look it up but my guess is those odds are at least half that, maybe less.

[The Rebel]

Why couldn’t Cleveland offer the same deal for Norman Powell?

That is why I'm wondering if Levert was the set up for something else. In a vacuum, Powell/Covington >>> Levert

The Powell/ Covington deal cut $19 million in payroll, that has a lot of value to some teams, especially when their roster is so disappointing.

[JujitsuFlip]

I mean if LeVert works out as well Mozgov did in 2015, I'll be thrilled.

If he works out as well as mozgov did, then Altman deserves GM of the year for this trade.

Actually, nah. Clippers still committed highway robbery in that trade with the blazers. Their GM can have the award.

Is this sarcasm? The Cavs gave up 2 1sts for Mozgov and he was benched within 12 months of the acquisition, and got DNP-CD in multiple playoff games before walking in FA after 1.5 years.

Everyone always harps on this lol Cavs were in win now mode and had a massive hole at 5, the 2016 title was well worth it. Waiting until summer 2016 to draft Korkmaz at #26 and waiting one more season until summer of 2017 to draft Giles at #20 was not beneficial to the Cavs championship window.

MozGOD served his purpose, starting 113 of the 155 games in his 2 seasons with the Cavs and being the first Russian to win a NBA title alongside his countrymen Sasha Kaun.

[ROballer]

Why couldn’t Cleveland offer the same deal for Norman Powell?

That is why I'm wondering if Levert was the set up for something else. In a vacuum, Powell/Covington >>> Levert

The Powell/ Covington deal cut $19 million in payroll, that has a lot of value to some teams, especially when their roster is so disappointing.

Would have worked with Cle too since Rubio is an expiring. They just had to attach Ed Davis and another minimum that Port could just buy out or waive to make the salaries work.

It's even better than the Clips deal actually, Rubio is expiring. Bledsoe has another year left. And the picks are better.

[LivingLegend]

If he works out as well as mozgov did, then Altman deserves GM of the year for this trade.

Actually, nah. Clippers still committed highway robbery in that trade with the blazers. Their GM can have the award.

Is this sarcasm? The Cavs gave up 2 1sts for Mozgov and he was benched within 12 months of the acquisition, and got DNP-CD in multiple playoff games before walking in FA after 1.5 years.

Everyone always harps on this lol Cavs were in win now mode and had a massive hole at 5, the 2016 title was well worth it. Waiting until summer 2016 to draft Korkmaz at #26 and waiting one more season until summer of 2017 to draft Giles at #20 was not beneficial to the Cavs championship window.

MozGOD served his purpose, starting 113 of the 155 games in his 2 seasons with the Cavs and being the first Russian to win a NBA title alongside his countrymen Sasha Kaun.

Fans have this irrational love for draft picks as if they all are going to become potential All-stars. It's like gambling just because one time, one year, the guy taken at #29 overall turned into a 5x All-star--fans then think the world of th #29th pick.

All I'm saying is, you can literally buy 2nd round draft picks if your so desperate for them lol

A good player right now is worth more than whatever the #36th pick of the draft maybe possible but probably won't turn into in 5 years from now.

[Cavsfansince84]

Zero interest in Beal in a Cavs uniform.

[Monky15]

I can think of several other SG's I'd rather have than LeVert - Powell, Bogdanovic, Burks, CJ but their contracts run at least 1 year longer and they will have to max Garland when LeVert is due to expire.

Still think they should of gone after Beasley, Milton first who both expire when Garland is due a raise. Surely Philly would of given up Shake for a first and he earns 16M less than LeVert, Beasley should of been available for expiring's and 2nds.

Can LeVert even play with Okoro? What 3 shooters would you put around them? Markannan, Osman, Garland? Who's playing defence?

[The Rebel]

That is why I'm wondering if Levert was the set up for something else. In a vacuum, Powell/Covington >>> Levert

The Powell/ Covington deal cut $19 million in payroll, that has a lot of value to some teams, especially when their roster is so disappointing.

Would have worked with Cle too since Rubio is an expiring. They just had to attach Ed Davis and another minimum that Port could just buy out or waive to make the salaries work.

It's even better than the Clips deal actually, Rubio is expiring. Bledsoe has another year left. And the picks are better.

$6-7 million would have put the Cavs well into the luxury tax, and it is very likely they were unwilling to do that.

People forget that going into the tax means that not only does a team have to pay into the tax, they no longer get their share of the tax revenue paid by other teams. $3 million into the tax could up end costing $10+ million in lost tax money on with half the teams in the league paying in. Not many teams are going to do that unless they believe the move makes them a contender.

[LivingLegend]

The Powell/ Covington deal cut $19 million in payroll, that has a lot of value to some teams, especially when their roster is so disappointing.

Would have worked with Cle too since Rubio is an expiring. They just had to attach Ed Davis and another minimum that Port could just buy out or waive to make the salaries work.

It's even better than the Clips deal actually, Rubio is expiring. Bledsoe has another year left. And the picks are better.

$6-7 million would have put the Cavs well into the luxury tax, and it is very likely they were unwilling to do that.

People forget that going into the tax means that not only does a team have to pay into the tax, they no longer get their share of the tax revenue paid by other teams. $3 million into the tax could up end costing $10+ million in lost tax money on with half the teams in the league paying in. Not many teams are going to do that unless they believe the move makes them a contender.

I'll never forget reading that the Cavs in 2016 when they won the title actually lost 40M.

They had a $55M lux tax bill that's how far into it they were.

[Ugly0598]

Not a huge fan but not a terrible one Jumped the gun on a guy that hasn’t won a lot. Rubio brings a lot of intangibles. People act like this is gonna be the 29th or 30th pick when actually it’s like 21-24.

[TheLand13]

I mean if LeVert works out as well Mozgov did in 2015, I'll be thrilled.

If he works out as well as mozgov did, then Altman deserves GM of the year for this trade.

Actually, nah. Clippers still committed highway robbery in that trade with the blazers. Their GM can have the award.

Is this sarcasm? The Cavs gave up 2 1sts for Mozgov and he was benched within 12 months of the acquisition, and got DNP-CD in multiple playoff games before walking in FA after 1.5 years.

I am talking about 2015, where mozgov started every game and played brilliantly in his role and made the Cavs a much better defensive team. He had to get surgery in the off-season and missed training camp completely and wasn’t as effective. It happens.

[JujitsuFlip]

Not a huge fan but not a terrible one Jumped the gun on a guy that hasn’t won a lot. Rubio brings a lot of intangibles. People act like this is gonna be the 29th or 30th pick when actually it’s like 21-24.

I don't think LeVert is worth a late 1st and an early 2nd but...

21-30 is not that much different talent, it's a late 1st either way.

[FreeThrowLine]

It's insane that 70% of the voters believe the Pacers won the deal or it was a fair deal. This was a steal for the Cavs, a bad move by the Pacers but they're clearly not trying to win games.

[BostonCouchGM]

I suggested this trade long ago as I knew the Cavs could not hope to make it far without some scoring from the wing position. Who did people think the Cavs were going to get for a mid 20s pick and second rounders? It's up to the coach to figure it out and rein him in. Now, in LeVert's defense, he's been on some bad teams, dealt with injuries and when he's had things going his way put up 20-5-5 seasons. So he's not a bum. But this move only works if he's dedicated on the defensive side of the ball and looking to make plays for others because then that will open up things for himself. His issue has always been health and trying to do too much. If he plays within himself they have a chance to win a playoff series or two.

And btw, like I predicted on draft night, Okoro was not the right pick. This is as much an indictment on him as anything. The guy can't shoot and is coming along too slowly for the Cavs with where they are now with increased expectations. He's still valuable in the Thybulle mode but he was taken #5!

It's a very fair trade imho that should help both teams.

[turnaroundJ]

I think it's a fair trade. Obviously a healthy Ricky Rubio is way better for the Cavs but that unfortunate injury happened. Levert off the bench would be great. He can handle the ball and get hot easily. I just hope he plays defense well and does not look off the bigs.

I hope the Pacers get good assets this trade deadline. A reset is definitely the way to go.

[Teal25]

I liked his chemistry with Allen. The Cavs will be a problem in the future sooner than we thought.

[MrBigShot]

Essentially a pick in the mid 20s range + two seconds. 2022 draft looks very meh. Deal is not great but not bad. LeVert has been inefficient thus far in his career but maybe he can change that in a more limited role.

Cleveland has quietly accumulated quite a bit of young talent on their roster. Mobley, Garland, Sexton, LeVert, Jarrett Allen, Okoro...really like what their GM has done, with a little more internal development from Garland/Mobley they could become contenders next year.

I agree the deal is kind of meh. Gave up a couple nice assets for a guy who doesn't put them over the top. Though, I wonder if the Cavs are going to surprise people and immediately go from build mode to win-now mode all at once, and this was the first domino.

This is spitballing, but could they do something now that is completely off the radar, like say trying to make an offer for Bradley Beal? They can offer Sexton/Okoro/Markannen (young talent they have accumulated) along with future picks (taking most protection off of them) to try to entice the Wizards (I don't see a way they could take on Bertans, though, which probably would make something like this more realistic).

It's probably a pipedream, but a lineup of:

1. Garland
2. Beal
3. Levert
4. Mobley
5. Allen

6. Love

Then still having Rondo/Goodwin/Cedi/Dean Wade/Lamar Stevens on the bench looks to me like a championship lineup, not only this year but for the forseeeable future if they would be able to resign Beal.

To me Beal represents a lot of what I don't want in a player. Entitled, inflated ego, not worth what he wants to be paid. I think they should stick with the Garland/Sexton pairing and see how it works for at least another year.