Keeping up with the Clippers and Trailblazers, today the Cavaliers and Pacers also instigated trades, shining ahead of the trade deadline. The Cavaliers sent Rubio, the 2022 Lotto-protected first-round picks and second-round picks, and the 2027 second-round picks in exchange for Le Ver and the 2022 second-round picks. With the introduction of immediate combat power without losing instant combat players and without injuring the big framework, the Rebuilding of the Cavaliers came to an end and began to embark on the road of benign team building. And the speed at which knights rose is astonishing.
Breaking up with Rubio, the Cavaliers are unwilling. Coming to Cleveland this season, the "Spanish Golden Boy" found its second spring, played in 34 games, averaged 13.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, averaged a new career high in points per game, and set a new career record in usage (24.8%). More importantly, his presence took Garland's performance to the next level, taking over the team's backcourt scepter while also advancing to the All-Star.
However, the sky was not good, and the Cavaliers suffered consecutive injuries in the backcourt, first Sexton, then Rubio. The latter's reimbursement hit the Cavaliers even harder. Rondo is too old, Brandon Goodwin, who is on a two-way contract, is embarrassed, and Garland has also suffered a recent back injury, and there is a vacuum in the organization and possession of the ball in the Cavaliers' backcourt. This is absolutely unacceptable for a team like the Cavaliers that is looking forward to the stars and the moon to come to today.
For this reason, it's no surprise that the Cavaliers want to reinforce the backcourt. From this point of view, LeVert may not be the best choice, but it is the most reasonable choice to solve the problem. Le Vere can hold the ball or play without the ball. This season, he averaged 7.5 shots per game while holding the ball, accounting for 47.2% of the total number of shots, while he averaged 1.8 three-point shots per game in the case of receiving the ball this season, accounting for 37.5% of the total number of three-point shots, and the shooting rate also reached 38.6%. Undoubtedly, with LeVert on his side, the pressure on Garland's shoulder could be relieved of some of it.
LeVert also has a first-hand organization, although his reputation in this regard is not as loud as on the offensive end. Before he was drawn into a Harden trade last season and left the Nets, he had 1/4 of the time in the Number One spot. LeVert's assist rate reached 23.4 percent this season, ranking fourth on the Pacers and the highest of the top 6 players in the team's total playing time.
In addition, the so-called "acquaintances are good at doing things". LeVert and Jarrett Allen have been partners at the Nets and have been reunited for the first time since they were involved in the Harden trade, and Allen is now one of the cornerstones of the Cavaliers. This undoubtedly helped LeVert quickly integrate into the new owner.
At the same time, LeVert's contract is also "friendly". The three-year, $52.5 million contract he signed in 2019 expires in 2023 and earns $18.8 million a year next season. Even if integration is not good, this summer the Cavaliers can handle his contract with only one year left.
In short, LeVert's deal is typical of those made by a team on the rise, with the aim of winning in the moment, and the Cavaliers' rebuild is complete. From James's second departure in 2018 to now, the Cavaliers' rebuilding has taken less than 4 years, which has to be said to be quite rapid, at least much faster and more effective than the reconstruction after James' first departure.
Knights rebuild so quickly that the human factor is of course number one. In 2018 and 2019, the Cavaliers successively selected Sexton and Garland, two small defenders with a height of 1.85 meters, which have been criticized by the industry and fans. But in fact, the knight is using this to screen.
In the 2021 offseason, Sports Illustrated reporter Chris Mannix made public the Cavaliers' dissatisfaction with Sexton (at that time, only Nance Jr., who had left the Cavaliers, came forward to refute the rumors), Garland's position in the team was actually established, and Sexton's subsequent reimbursement made all this possible. And the All-Star affirmation also proves that the Cavaliers' choice is correct.
In the past 2 years, the Cavaliers have won consecutive high picks, first selecting Okoro with the 5th pick, and then picking up Evan Mobley with the probe last year, and the key players in each position have been in place. In particular, Mobley is expected to pick up this year's rookie king, showing excellence in the same rookie.
The Cavaliers also participated in Harden's deal in early 2021, bringing in Allen and immediately locking it in with a five-year, $100 million deal. At that moment, the main framework of the Cavaliers' future lineup is already clear, Aaron, Garland and Mobley will pick up the girder, and 2 of these 3 people are self-cultivated through the draft, and the Cavaliers have reason to be proud.
Young people are eager to try it, and veterans are not far behind. Love, who has been at odds with the team since his second departure, has slept soundly in the book of merits this season, averaging 14.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, as well as a 39.6 percent three-point shooting rate. What Cleveland fans are now thinking about is no longer who Love can get, but whether Love can compete for the best sixth man of the season.
The players are like this, and the credit of the manager cannot be erased, and the Cavaliers also honored the coach Bixtaf Jr. with a contract extension. At the beginning of the season, the Cavaliers mavericked with a three-high lineup, with Aaron, Mobley and Markkanen starting together to become the latest representative of the trend of bucking the small ball trend driven by the Lakers and Bucks' championship. The three perform their duties at both ends of the attack and defense, can open up space to protect the basket, and can also change defense to the outside line, and the defense almost covers the whole field. The foundation of the Cavaliers' defense was thus firmly established.
Whether it was an active choice or a coincidence, the Cavaliers also embarked on the success path of the dark horse team in the past 2 seasons. Last season's Grizzlies and Knicks, this season's Cavaliers and Timberwolves (this season's defensive efficiency was once in the league's top 10), but any team that wants to produce a record has taken the lead in working defense. In addition, the Lone Ranger soared in January this year, and the defensive efficiency once led the league. The Lakers and the Nets, the two luxurious divisions, have successively become the negative examples of the decline in record caused by the collapse of defense.
Reaching the playoffs is a success for the Cavaliers of the season. This offseason, if nothing else, Sexton has finished the last game in the Cavaliers' shirt, Garland will complete an early contract extension, and then the Cavaliers will run towards higher goals. No matter how high they rush, looking back, they should applaud the 2021-22 season's distinctive and gorgeous turn. (Supine Braces/Hairy)