The Cleveland Cavaliers made a big splash on Sunday as they look to continue their ascent in the Eastern Conference standings.
With the NBA trade deadline days away, the Cavs acquired wing Caris LeVert and a 2022 second-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, a 2022 second-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
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LeVert is averaging 18.7 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game this season. The 27-year-old was traded to the Pacers as part of the three-team deal that send James Harden to the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.
Rubio is on an expiring $17.8 million contract. The veteran point guard suffered a town ACL in December and will miss the remainder of the campaign.
As for how this affects the Celtics, the Cavs had been considered a potential trade destination for C's guard Dennis Schroder. Cleveland acquiring LeVert likely means there's one less suitor for the German guard.
The Cavs (32-21) are fourth in the tightly-contested East and only 1.5 games behind the first-place Bulls. Boston (29-25) enters Sunday night eighth in the conference and five games back.
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The Pacers (19-35) sit in 13th place and might not be done making deals. Indiana reportedly is fielding potential trades involving big man Myles Turner and two-time All-Star Domontas Sabonis.