Cleveland.com Cleveland Cavaliers reporter Chris Fedor wrote Cavs guard Caris LeVert may have been gaining interest from other teams in a Tuesday article.
“LeVert is the linchpin in Cleveland’s free agency class,” Fedor wrote. “Sources say LeVert was garnering interest from numerous rival teams. Some were preparing more lucrative offers. Others were set to provide more security than just two years.
“But LeVert wanted to stay. He talked about it with decision-makers during his exit interview and spoke about it publicly during his end-of-season farewell.”
The former Brooklyn Net and Indiana Pacer highlighted a Cavs free agency class that featured the signings of forward Georges Niang and guard Ty Jerome. Cleveland pulled off a sign-and-trade for former Miami Heat guard Max Strus and traded for Utah Jazz center Damian Jones.
LeVert signed a two-year, $32 million contract on Friday. The 6-foot-6-inch guard earned averages of 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game as he took starting roles in 30 of the 74 games he played in during the 2022-23 regular season. LeVert scored 20 points or more on 13 occasions last season, including a 41-point performance against the Boston Celtics in October. The former Michigan guard played an important role for Cleveland during the playoffs, earning time in five games and starting in three as he scored an average of 15 points per game.
LeVert signed a three-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He and a second-round pick would be traded to Cleveland for guard Ricky Rubio, a lottery-protected first-round pick and two second-rounders.
LeVert expressed his interest in returning to the Cavaliers by the end of the 2022-23 season.
“I definitely want to be a part of this culture, be a part of this team,” LeVert said in late April, via Cleveland.com. “This is a super special group and I definitely want to be a part of that.
“But you all know it’s a business, so we’ll see what happens this summer. But I would love to come back.”