CLEVELAND (AP) — Just minutes into his first practice since joining the Cavaliers, Caris LeVert reconnected with one of his former Brooklyn teammates.
He threw lobs to Jarrett Allen.
“Just like old times,” LeVert said, smiling.
And now new ones in Cleveland, where LeVert has already learned that the goals are vastly different than when he was with Indiana.
“Here,” he said. “We’re playing for a championship.”
LeVert, who has been on a unique basketball odyssey over the past two years, spoke excitedly about his situation on Tuesday, two days after being acquired by the Cavs in a major trade ahead of this week’s NBA deadline.
Cleveland sent guard Ricky Rubio (and his expiring $17.8 million contract), and three second-round draft picks to Indiana for LeVert on Sunday — hours before hosting the Pacers.
The league’s biggest surprise, Cleveland acquired the 27-year-old LeVert to bolter their offense and get the Cavs closer to an Eastern Conference title.
“It makes us more…