As the trade deadline approaches, the Cavaliers have managed to secure one of the team's preferred trade targets on the trade market, with ESPN Adrian Warnaroski saying the Cavaliers swapped back for the 2022 first-round pick and two second-round picks, plus veteran Ricky Rubio to the Pacers, and the 2022 second-round pick (from the Heat):
"According to sources, the Pacers sent Carris LeVert and the 2022 Heat's second-round picks to the Cavaliers, which put them in place of Ricky Rubio, lotto-protected 2022 first-round picks, Rockets' 2022 second-round picks and Jazz's 2027 second-round picks."
The Cavaliers have lacked outside scoring ability since Colin Sexton suffered a meniscus injury at the beginning of the season, and Caris Levert is a player who has averaged 18.7 points and 4.4 assists per game so far this season, in addition to 44.7% shooting statistics, and his addition will undoubtedly make the Cavaliers, who have won 32-21 so far this season and ranked fourth in the East, a more competitive team. It should also be noted that LeVert and Cavaliers interior striker Allen were also former teammates who played for the Nets together.
For the Pacers, the deal could better get the team into the rebuilding phase, after all, as long as the Cavaliers can make it to the playoffs, they can get three draft picks in the deal, including two in the 2022 draft pick. Of course, Rubio, who suffered an ACL tear injury, is unlikely to play for the Pacers this season.
Giving up future first-round picks is arguably a very high price in any trade, and it's enough to show that the Cavaliers want to seize this competitive opportunity this season, after all, they are already the best team in the Eastern Conference, and LeVert may have a better performance on the offensive end of the team and they will have a good chance of ending a three-season playoff drought.