New Pacers arrival Caris LeVert out indefinitely with worrisome injury

Caris LeVert will be out indefinitely for the Indiana Pacers.

The Indiana Pacers‘ new arrival, Caris LeVert, will have to wait a while longer to make his debut with his new team.

On Saturday, the team announced the 26-year-old guard will be out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney.

The MRI was conducted as part of a physical prior to the completion of the four-team James Harden blockbuster trade that recently shipped LeVert to Indiana. He will undergo further tests to determine the next course of action.

Caris LeVert and the Pacers gave statements on the situation

LeVert gave a statement thanking his new organization for their help in the matter:

“On behalf of my family and myself, we want to thank the Indiana Pacers for their support and guidance. We are grateful for their extreme thoroughness during the physical process and I am looking forward to joining the team and being part of this great organization as soon as possible.”

Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard also released a statement:

“We acquired Caris because of who he is as a young man first and foremost. His basketball skill and on court play speaks for itself and we know he has a great career ahead of him. We will support Caris through this time and know that he will join us on the court as soon as he is able.”

In 12 games with the Brooklyn Nets this season, LeVert was averaging 18.5 points, 6.0 assists and 4.3 rebounds in 27.8 minutes per game, mostly coming off the bench. He was shooting 43.5 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from 3-point range while doubling as one of the more effective backcourt/wing defenders in the league.

The Pacers sent Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets as part of this massive four-team deal, avoiding paying Oladipo in 2021 free agency by bringing on a younger, similar player in LeVert, who is under contract through the 2022-23 season.

For a player who has already dealt with his share of injury woes, hopefully this is just a minor setback for LeVert and nothing more serious. Thankfully the mass was found in this trade-mandated physical, and hopefully it will allow him to get the treatment he needs.