Cavaliers guard Caris LeVert hopes to sign a contract extension and remain with the team long-term, Kelsey Russo of The Athletic tweets. LeVert was acquired by the team in February, averaging 13.6 points on 43.5% shooting in his 19 games.
“Yeah, this is where I want to be. They know that,” LeVert said. “The front office knows that, my teammates know that. So I don’t know what’s gonna happen with that contract extension, but I know where my heart is.”
LeVert, who was born in Columbus, Ohio, is set to make $18.8MM next season. The 27-year-old also averaged a career-high 20.2 points with Brooklyn and Indiana last season, shooting 44% from the floor and 33% from three-point range.
There’s more from the Central Division today:
- Despite losing to the Hawks in the play-in tournament on Friday, the Cavaliers’ season appeared to be the start of something special, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes. The team’s experiment of starting Evan Mobley, Lauri Markkanen and Jarrett Allen together worked and it still has a young core headlined by Darius Garland. Cleveland was also in the playoff picture before dealing with injuries to multiple key players.
- The Bulls will be without assistant coaches Chris Fleming and Damian Cotter in Game 1 of their first-round series, according to the Associated Press. Fleming and Cotter both tested positive for COVID-19. Chicago will open the playoffs on the road against Milwaukee on Sunday.
- James Boyd of the Indianapolis Star examines why trading for Russell Westbrook may not be the best idea for the Pacers. Westbrook is coming off a tumultuous season with the Lakers, while the Pacers are reportedly willing to move starting point guard Malcolm Brogdon. Indiana dealt with numerous injuries this year and finished with a 25-57 record.