The Cleveland Cavaliers have arguably the best backcourt in the NBA and a long and strong frontcourt duo, but at the same time, the small forward position has been a big question mark.
Coming into this season, veteran Caris LeVert was tabbed as the best candidate to start at the 3, and indeed, he started their first 14 games at that position.
After shooting well from 3-point range in his first several games, he has struggled, and he went just 2-of-9 in Monday’s 100-88 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Caris Levert this season:
11.4 PTS
4.8 ASTS
4.6 RBS
35% FG
36% 3PT
79% FTWithout the 41 Point Boston Game:
10.1 PTS
33% FG
32% 3PT pic.twitter.com/7ZgK9WTDFW— Capt. CTE 🍁🧣 (@Precision80) November 29, 2022
Clearly, LeVert isn’t cutting it, and with no clear-cut solution at the 3, it’s time for Cleveland to dangle him in trade talks.
LeVert Could Have Some Value Around The League
Perhaps on another team, where he would have the ball in his hands more often, LeVert could go back to being a serviceable NBA wing.
Although he has never been a consistently accurate 3-point shooter, he can score points, and he can also serve as a secondary facilitator.
In his seven NBA seasons, LeVert has averaged 14.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, and in the last four seasons he has put up 17.8 points and 4.6 dimes a contest.
But even if no team sees him as a valuable piece, there is something else valuable about him: his contract.
LeVert will be paid about $18.8 million this season, and he’s in the last year of his contract, which means he could provide salary cap relief for a number of squads.
The Cavs not only need a reliable two-way starter at the 3, but they also badly need some scoring punch off the bench, as they rank toward the bottom of the NBA in bench points per game.
Perhaps a package centered around LeVert could be enough to bring in one more piece to help Cleveland get to the next level.
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