Former Nets guard Caris LeVert: 'This trade could have possibly saved me in the long run'

Former Nets guard Caris LeVert was clearly a huge piece of the massive four-way deal that ended up bringing James Harden to Brooklyn while sending Victor Oladipo to the Rockets and Jarrett Allen to Cleveland.

But for LeVert, the trade resulted in more than just having to say so long to his Nets teammates and starting the next chapter of his career in Indiana, as his physical with the Pacers revealed a small mass on his left kidney.

LeVert, who has been ruled out indefinitely as he deals with the medical issue, spoke to reporters on Tuesday, explaining that if not for the trade, his medical condition likely wouldn’t have been discovered as soon as it was.

“I didn’t have any symptoms. As you know, I was playing in games. I hadn’t missed any games this season yet,” LeVert said. “I was feeling 100 percent healthy, so in a way this trade definitely showed and revealed what was going on in my body.

“I’m definitely looking at it from that side and definitely humbled to know that this trade could have possibly saved me in the long run.”

In 12 games with the Nets this season, the 26-year-old averaged 18.5 points per game to go along with 6.0 assists, as he was establishing himself as sixth man for Brooklyn.

Now, when he’s able to get back on the floor, he’ll look to pick up where he left off with a new group of teammates in Indiana.