Cavaliers Complete De'Andre Hunter Trade With Western Conference Team

The Cleveland Cavaliers have made the second trade of the NBA season, sending De'Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal. The deal sends Hunter to Sacramento, Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland, and Dario Saric and two second-round picks to the Chicago Bulls.

The deal gives the Cavs a ton of flexibility, creating $50 million in salary and tax savings this season. They also added two quality rotation players for Hunter, who was under contract for the 2026-27 season at $24.9 million.

Hunter was averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three.

To replace him, they have added Keon Ellis, who is a solid 3&D wing. Ellis is averaging 5.6 points along with 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals. He is shooting 39.7 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent from behind the arc.

Ellis is a career 41.6 percent shooter from downtown and is in the final year of his deal.  If he plays well, the Cavs could look to retain him in free agency.

Cleveland is also adding Dennis Schroder, a solid role player throughout his career. Schroder is averaging 12.8 points, three rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game. The 32-year-old is shooting 40.8 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from distance.

Schroder is in the first season of a three-year, $44.4 million deal. He will now be Cleveland's backup point guard behind Darius Garland.

This trade gives the Cavs two solid players, creates financial flexibility, and makes Lonzo Ball more expendable.

Ball was acquired in an offseason deal for Isaac Okoro, and he has struggled. The former second overall pick is averaging just 4.6 points per game along with four rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.3 steals. 

Ball is shooting a very inefficient 29.9 percent from the floor and 26.9 percent from deep.  

He is in the first year of a two-year $20 million deal, but there is a team option for the 2026-27 season. That makes him a potential expiring salary to leverage in another deal ahead of the deadline.

Although Hunter has been a solid player for the Cavs, he has been inconsistent, and they are now bringing in two players who will be key parts of their rotation.