Caris LeVert

LeVert has always been talented, but the 2022-23 season did not go well. He actually posted some of his worst numbers since his sophomore season, averaging 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.0 steals across 30.2 minutes a night. We're talking about a player who averaged 18.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.2 steals across the three previous years. He did that damage for much worse teams, but it'll be tough for LeVert to return to that form in Cleveland. The primary problem is that Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell dominate touches and playmaking duties. It's tough for LeVert to do what he does best when those two are asked to do so much, and it's even more problematic that LeVert is expected to return to a bench role after the signing of Max Strus. LeVert came off the bench 44 times last year and averaged just 10.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.0 steals across 27.2 minutes a night when doing so. Those are sadly the numbers we anticipate from LeVert this year, and a change of scenery could be on the way if his role continues to fall off. Someone might take LeVert at the end of your draft, but it would be wise to pass on him and take someone younger with a higher upside.

LeVert showed a lot of promise early in his career with the Nets. He became an attractive trade chip and was eventually moved to the Pacers in the mega four-team trade that landed James Harden on the Nets. The 2020-21 season was LeVert's most productive, as he averaged 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.8 three-pointers in total with the Nets and Pacers. With the Pacers deciding to retool their roster, they shipped LeVert to the Cavaliers in the middle of last season. He would only end up playing 19 games with the Cavaliers because of injuries -- 10 of which featured him coming off of the bench. He struggled with his new squad, averaging 13.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists. LeVert's role is up in the air heading into this season, especially with the Cavs trading for Donovan Mitchell. Even if LeVert were placed in a starting role -- a sixth-man role seems more likely -- his 22.3 percent usage rate with the team last season is not encouraging. Despite his past production and promise, LeVert's fantasy ceiling should continue to be limited as a member of the Cavaliers.

LeVert spent 12 games with the Nets before being dealt to the Pacers in January as part of the four-team James Harden deal. However, upon going to Indiana, his physical revealed a left kidney carcinoma. He underwent surgery to address the mass and was able to return in March. He proceeded to appear in 35 games for his new team and averaged 20.7 points, 4.9 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.9 minutes. Putting aside the missed games, LeVert's 2020-21 campaign was the best of his career, as he ranked 55th in fantasy in per-game production -- his third straight season improving his fantasy value. Heading into 2021-22, LeVert should remain the Pacers' starting shooting guard and will be one of the highest-usage players on the team alongside Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. However, before selecting LeVert as high as the fourth or fifth round, fantasy managers should consider his extensive injury history (not including the kidney carcinoma). Injuries were much of the reason LeVert slipped to 20th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, and he's appeared in more than 57 games just once in his career.

LeVert had a mini-breakout last season, though injuries remained an issue, and he appeared in just 45 games (31 starts). The versatile Michigan product averaged career highs nearly across the board, posting 18.7 points, 4.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 29.6 minutes. He was notably the Nets' leader in seeding play during the bubble, averaging 25.0 points, 6.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.0 combined steals-plus-blocks in 33.1 minutes. The 26-year-old's development is encouraging, but he will probably be taking more of a backseat role this season. Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are both entering the season healthy, which will likely limit LeVert's usage, especially with Spencer Dinwiddie still on the team. Taking that into account, plus LeVert's injury history, he shouldn't be viewed as more than a late-round flier in most fantasy leagues.

The 2018-19 season was shaping up as a breakout campaign for LeVert early on. The talented 2016 first-round pick was often leading the charge for a Nets team that had the look of a team that was capable of exceeding expectations early, but disaster struck in the form of a right foot dislocation against the Timberwolves on Nov. 12. The versatile wing was back in action by Feb. 8 after missing 42 games, but it naturally took some time for LeVert to look like himself again and reclaim something resembling starter's minutes. LeVert played 30 minutes or fewer in the first 15 games subsequent to his return, scoring no more than 18 points and posting six single-digit tallies along with one scoreless effort over that span. However, the 24-year-old picked up the pace significantly over the last three weeks of the regular campaign and through the postseason, averaging 15.7 points (on 46.4 percent shooting, including 40.0 percent from three-point range), 4.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds over his last 16 contests, including the five playoff games against the 76ers. Now having had a full offseason to further regain strength in his foot, LeVert could be set up for that career-changing season, albeit one year later. D'Angelo Russell's departure is heavily negated by the arrival of Kyrie Irving in terms of usage, but LeVert should be the second option in the offense alongside the prized offseason acquisition with Kevin Durant (Achilles) set to sit out the entire year. Improved efficiency figures to be key to LeVert maximizing his potential, as he's actually seen his shooting percentage drop in each of his first three seasons, bottoming out at last season's career-low 42.9.

After missing a chunk of his rookie season recovering from injury, the 2017-18 campaign marked LeVert's first year of playing a full schedule. While he missed a handful of contests here and there, LeVert still played in 71 games and became a prominent member of the regular rotation. The Nets brought in Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll in trades prior to the season and despite the fact that those two ultimately held down the two starting spots on the wing ahead of LeVert, the second-year guard was still able to log 26.3 minutes per game after finishing with just 21.7 as a rookie. LeVert posted career highs across the board of 12.1 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He still struggled a bit with his shot, however, and finished just 43.5 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from deep. He'll likely continue to work on honing in his shooting stroke, which could help improve his 1.2 three-pointers per contest. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the Nets bring back a similar cast of players on the wing. Crabbe, Carroll and Joe Harris all return, though the Nets did part ways with Jeremy Lin. Considering LeVert's ability to play point guard, shooting guard and small forward, the plethora of bodies shouldn't impact his ability to see significant minutes once again and the Nets seem likely to focus on his development as one of the foundation pieces of the future. If LeVert stays healthy, he should be able to take yet another step forward in his development. However, with so many mouths to feed, he may struggle to make more than minor gains across the stat sheet, so Fantasy owners shouldn't expect a huge jump in production going into his third year.

Drafted with the 20th overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, LeVert ended up missing the first 20 games of the season while working his way back from a fractured foot that he suffered in college at Michigan. Once cleared in December, LeVert slowly earned more and more playing time and eventually took over as a starter, spending 26 of the 57 games he played in with the top unit. After playing roughly 25 minutes a night over the final month and half of the season, LeVert finished with a season average of 8.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists across 21.7 minutes. His three-point production improved as the year went on, but he only shot 32.1 percent from deep for the entire campaign, so that certainly needs some work in order to draw defenses out to the perimeter. He also shot just 72 percent from the free-throw line, which hurts his value in rotisserie leagues. Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the Nets brought in both Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll in trades this offseason. That complicates LeVert's path to playing time and could knock him back into a reserve role. The upside on LeVert remains high and the Nets will likely try and get him as much playing time as possible to aid in that development, but the additions of Crabbe and Carroll, as well as D'Angelo Russell, will likely limit LeVert's ability to make a tangible leap as a sophomore.

The Nets made LeVert the No. 20 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, using the pick acquired from Indiana in the Thaddeus Young trade. While LeVert's talent is undeniable, he comes with significant health concerns after missing 35 games over the last two years due to recurring left foot injuries. That were enough to scare some teams away, but the Nets are reportedly confident that LeVert's foot issues are in the past, and he seems to be progressing toward availability for the start of the season. At 6-foot-7 with above-average athleticism and ball-handling ability, LeVert could play up to three positions next season, but shooting guard is probably his most natural fit. Brooklyn isn't exactly loaded at any backcourt position, though LeVert will have plenty of competition for minutes off the bench in the form of Sean Kilpatrick, veteran Randy Foye and fellow rookie Isaiah Whitehead. LeVert's versatility, as well as the Nets' first-round investment in him, could ultimately provide an advantage, but 2016-17 is likely to be more of a developmental year than anything else.