Cavaliers agree with forward Caris LeVert on 2-year, $32 million deal

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Cavaliers opened NBA free agency by agreeing with forward Caris LeVert on a two-year, $32 million contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Friday.

LeVert bounced between starter and reserve last season for the Cavs, who won 51 games in the regular season and ended their postseason drought before losing to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because league rules prohibit teams from announcing deals until next week.

LeVert averaged 12.1 points, 3.9 assists and 3.8 rebounds last season. He was expected to have a larger role before the Cavs acquired All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell in a blockbuster trade last summer.

Still, the 28-year-old LeVert, who came to Cleveland midway through the 2022 season, found his niche and was also one of the team’s best on-ball defenders.

Cleveland has been desperate to find a two-way wing to go along with its young core — Mitchell, guard Darius Garland, forward Evan Mobley and center Jarrett Allen.

The Cavs are expected to be active in free agency and have targeted several players, including Miami shooting guard Max Strus and Philadelphia forward Georges Niang.