A year after the Pacers acquired Caris LeVert in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana is sending the guard to the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The trade will reportedly send Ricky Rubio to the Pacers, along with a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks. Rubio suffered a season-ending ACL tear in December and is set to become a free agent in the offseason, so Indiana is inheriting the rest of his contract even though he'll likely never play for the Pacers.
LeVert, 27, has averaged 18.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds so far in the 2021-22 season.
LeVert is thrilled with the chance to return to his Ohio home and join an emerging contender with Cavs. He gives Cleveland a significant wing player who'll be eligible for an extension this summer. Pacers get Cavs first-round pick and a Houston second that'll be in low 30's.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2022
The trade is likely just the beginning of a sell-off for the Pacers with Indiana floundering at 19-35 on the season. Indiana has won just six of its last 22. According to Wojnarowski, Pacers players Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner have also been discussed in trade talks.
Cleveland is fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 32-21 record.
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