Indiana Pacers wing Caris LeVert is out indefinitely after an MRI revealed a small mass on his left kidney, the team announced Saturday.
The mass was found during a physical prior to the Pacers finalizing the trade to acquire LeVert. He will undergo further tests.
“On behalf of my family and myself, we want to thank the Indiana Pacers for their support and guidance,” LeVert said in a statement. “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.”
The Pacers announced they had acquired LeVert and cash considerations from the Nets as part of the four-team trade that sent Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets. The Pacers also received a future second-round draft pick from Houston and a future second-round pick from Cleveland in the deal.
“We acquired Caris because of who he is as a young man first and foremost,” Pacers president of basketball operations Kevin Pritchard said in a statement. “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.”
The news became official following a Pacers practice in Los Angeles on Saturday. Pacers coach Nate Bjorkren confirmed that LeVert’s currently away from the team, but said he’s “excited” to work with him.
“Obviously, I’m very familiar with him. Last year, played against him in the first round of the playoffs where he was very hard to handle,” said Bjorkgren, a former Toronto Raptors assistant. “Very good player and very dynamic so I’ve watched a lot of him, coached against him and now looking forward to having him on our Indiana Pacers team.”
LeVert, 26, is averaging 18.5 points and six assists in 27.8 minutes per game this season.