Newly acquired Caris LeVert is expected to make his Cleveland Cavaliers debut Wednesday against the visiting San Antonio Spurs.
The 6-foot-6, 205-pound swingman was traded to the Cavaliers on Monday with a second-round pick from the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Cleveland’s lottery-protected 2022 first-round pick, injured guard Ricky Rubio’s expiring contract and two second-round selections.
LeVert, 27, practiced with the Cavs Tuesday and will be available against the Spurs Wednesday. He averaged 18.7 points, 4.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 39 games with Indiana this year.
“It’s a crazy feeling,” he said. “I’ve felt a lot of love over the last couple of days. I’m very blessed to be here. I just can’t wait to get started. I’m super excited. They are a young team with a lot of energy. I feel I’m going to thrive.”
Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said they didn’t want to disrupt the team’s chemistry in the trade. LeVert, a native of Pickerington, Ohio, is what the team needed, the coach said.
“He fits a need,” Bickerstaff said. “(He has the) ability to put the ball on the floor and create. He will help everybody. He’s an added weapon. (Opposing teams) will have to pick their poison. It makes us more dynamic and more dangerous as a basketball team. He’s a long, rangy defender as well.”
Bickerstaff wouldn’t say if LeVert would start. He also wouldn’t address the availability of Darius Garland, who has been dealing with a back injury.
San Antonio snapped a three-game losing streak with its 131-106 win over the Houston Rockets last Friday. The Cleveland game will be its first in five days.
Wednesday also will be the first of eight consecutive road games for the Spurs, mixed in with the All-Star break. They won’t return home until March 3 against Sacramento.
The Spurs will be represented at the All-Star Game by guard Dejounte Murray, who was added as an injury replacement Monday along with Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball.
Murray certainly played like an All-Star in the first meeting with Cleveland on Jan. 14. He had 30 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in the Cavs’ 114-109 victory.
The 25-year-old is averaging a career-high 19.6 points, 8.4 rebounds and 9.2 assists on the season.
“He’s playing All-Star basketball,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said last month. “He’s growing by leaps and bounds in every way.”
After the game against San Antonio, the Cavaliers will have three more contests before the All-Star break — all on the road — where they are 16-12 on the season. They face Indiana on Friday, Philadelphia on Saturday and Atlanta on Feb. 15.
Cleveland has won six in a row at home, including the zany 98-85 win over the Pacers on Sunday when they outscored Indiana 37-17 in the fourth quarter. Cedi Osman paced the Cavs with 22 points, 18 in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Love, a Sixth Man of the Year candidate, added 19 points and seven rebounds.
Garland has missed the previous four games with a sore lower back. He’s been listed as questionable for the Cavs.
Cleveland eventually will want to pair Garland and LeVert in the same backcourt. LeVert scored a season-high 42 points in his most recent game against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
