Should the Cleveland Cavaliers be sellers or buyers at the 2026 NBA trade deadline?
It's been a disappointing season thus far for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
After having the best record in the Eastern Conference last season, the Cavaliers are only 22-19. They are in seventh place in the East and would be in the NBA play-in tournament if the regular season ended today.
Despite the underwhelming start, though, the Cavaliers are not expected to be sellers at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. In fact, Cleveland has "rebuffed trade offers" for key players already.
The Cavaliers are not going to trade Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen. A few teams are interested in trading for De'Andre Hunter, but Cleveland has no interest in parting ways with the swingman.
It is worth mentioning, though, that NBA insider Matt Moore is reporting that Hunter prefers to be traded and Klutch Sports Group has expressed interest in a Hunter a package involving Los Angeles Lakers players Jarred Vanderbilt and Gabe Vincent and Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges.
Vanderbilt and Bridges are represented by Klutch Sports Group.
Hunter has appeared in 36 games this season. He's averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 42.5% from the field, 30.3% from beyond the arc and 87.5% from the free-throw line.
In 27 games for Cleveland last season, Hunter averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. The former Atlanta Hawks swingman shot 48.5% overall, 42.6% from 3 and 82.1% from the foul line.
As you can see by the numbers, Hunter shot the ball better last season. The 28-year-old is making $23.3 million this season. He'll make $24.9 million next season in the final year of his contract.
It will be fascinating to see if Hunter and the Cavaliers can turn things around this season. Cleveland hasn't advanced past the second round of the playoffs since 2018, the final campaign of LeBron James' second stint.