Behind Career-Best Shooting, Caris LeVert Is Fitting In With The Cleveland Cavaliers

So far in his career, the best version of Caris LeVert came with him playing with the ball in his hands, creating looks for himself with a sprinkle of creation mixed in. He was a jitterbug, in-between operator likely best suited as a third ball handler.

It’s the role he had in Brooklyn at least, where he ended up playing off of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving before he was sent out in the multi-team deal that sent James Harden to Houston. (And, coincidentally, Jarrett Allen to Cleveland.)

The role LeVert has settled into with Cleveland is different. There are games where he is allowed to play the old way — think of his 41-point game against the Celtics earlier this season. But those are not common anymore. On a team with Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell and an emerging Evan Mobley, makes sense.

“He’s one of the guys that goes unsung at times,” said Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. “And he’s been willing to take a different role for this team than who he’s been. But again, he’s another guy who just wants to help the team win. He defends multiple positions for us. He’ll rebound. He just takes challenges. And he’s selfless in that way. Just all he wants to do is try to help us win, and he’ll do whatever it takes.”

All season, even when it hasn’t always worked, LeVert has been willing to be malleable. On offense, that means taking catch-and-shoot threes. On defense, that means defending up against bigger threes because the Cavs lack a traditional big wing stopper. He’s also creating well, often slithering into the paint on a pick-and-roll when he does have the ball and finding Allen or another big on a dump off pass after he’s pulled the defense towards him.

“He’s raised his level,” said Donovan Mitchell. “I think his role is a little more consistent now, which is easier to find a groove. And you’re looking at it.”

“I mean, it’s crazy to see how long he is and him deflecting basketballs and getting to the passing lanes,” said Darius Garland. “I mean, it’s crazy to see because he’s just so effective, and it really means a lot to us because he’s playing hard. We know that he can start on any team, but he’s taken a role that he’s started to get adjusted to, and he’s really excelling in it. So we love to see that from Vert, for sure.”

LeVert’s catch-and-shoot numbers are the biggest change in his game. For the season, he’s shooting 38.4% on 2.8 catch-and-shoot threes per game. It’s built on last season, when he shot 40.8% on 1.8 catch-and-shoot threes per game. Before that, he’d only shot above 33% on catch-and-shoot threes in his career.

“I think he understood, once the trade was made, where he was going to fit in and he put the time in to work on it. He’s used to being the guy that has to create and create his own shot, so I think he did a great job of fitting in to what the team need is. And when you have the Donovan’s and the Darius’ of the world with the ball in their hand, a lot was going to come to him in catch-and-shoot opportunities, so I think he just prepared himself for that.”

This year, LeVert has also rebounded his shooting in season. In February, he shot 22.2% on catch-and-shoot threes. So far in March, he’s shooting 44.1%. It comes at a time when he is playing the best basketball he’s ever played with the Cavs.

“I think I’m just getting more consistent with my looks,” LeVert said. “I think, obviously, your numbers will be more consistent when you kind of know where your shots are coming from and I think that’s been a result of being healthy. I think, in years past, I’ve kind of missed games. This is the most games I’ve played since like my second year. Just being consistently on the court, knowing where your shots are going to come from, I think that has made a huge difference for me in my shooting numbers for sure.”

The playoffs might determine LeVert’s future. He’s in the last year of his contract and will hit unrestricted free agency in July. The Cavs don’t have an obvious way to replace him, so it’s likely they retain him on some sort of extension. And with the way LeVert is playing, and how he’s helping the Cavs win, he’s earning it. It could be a deal that is about rewarding him for his play more than just re-signing him so he doesn’t walk for nothing.

“I’m just trying to be more locked in,” LeVert said after a recent game. “Playoff time coming and I know what that entails. I’ve been there a couple times, so I’m just trying to put myself in that mindset. My teammates give me a lot of confidence each and every night to just be myself, so they make it easy on me.

“I feel pretty sharp. My handle feels sharp. My jump shot feels pretty sharp. My conditioning feels up to par. I’ve kind of kicked it into playoff mode.”