Golden State Warriors: There’s an interesting case to be made for Caris LeVert

The Golden State Warriors aren’t likely to trade Andrew Wiggins, but if there is one player that has been making a case to force his way onto a championship-caliber team, it’s Indiana Pacers’ guard Caris LeVert.

LeVert recently had a monster game against the Detroit Pistons. He put up 31 points. While he’s been injured throughout his career, having multiple setbacks to reaching that ceiling, LeVert is starting to show that high-level upside.

The Golden State Warriors could still desire that third true star, and while it could be Andrew Wiggins, if Caris LeVert is on the table, he may be a better fit.

While LeVert is averaging just 15.7 points per game this season, he topped 20 per game last season. At 27 years old, LeVert is entering his prime.

Splitting time between Brooklyn and Indiana last season, LeVert ended with a 20.2 per game average. He hit 44% from the field. The difference between LeVert and Wiggins is the playmaking factor that LeVert could bring.

Almost 60% of Wiggins’ two-point field goals have been assisted this season. While LeVert plays a drastically different role, he’s getting assisted on under 40% of his two-point field goals. LeVert is a player that can go get himself a bucket, and at 6-foot-6, he can also give good size.

A lineup of Curry, Poole, LeVert, Thompson, and Green is the best small-ball lineup in the league, and even sliding all three up a position and including Wiseman gives the team both side and elite playmaking from almost all five positions.

Given how the Warriors feel about Wiggins, it doesn’t make much sense for them to use the assets to bring in LeVert, but the fit, given his ability to score, seems better.

At what cost and if it’s worth it to Golden State is what’s more important, and it certainly doesn’t seem like it would be. Nonetheless, LeVert is picking up his play, and he should clearly be primed to take a team to the next level.