Are the Cleveland Cavaliers about to make a trade?
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Cleveland Cavaliers are engaged in various trade conversations on a player.
Who is the player, you ask? According to Fischer, it's small forward De'Andre Hunter.
"Sources say that the Cavaliers, meanwhile, are engaged in various conversations on De'Andre Hunter, but many teams view his $20-plus million salary for next season as negative value when also factoring in his injury history," Fischer wrote.
Hunter has played in 41 games this season for the Cavaliers. He's averaging 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 42.0% from the field, 30.6% from beyond the arc and 87.9% 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, but there's still plenty of time left this season for that to change. The 28-year-old Hunter, who doesn't have a no-trade clause, is making $23.3 million this season. He'll make $24.9 million next season in the final year of his contract.
The Cavaliers are 28-20. They are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings. If the regular season ended today, Cleveland would face the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 playoffs.
It's been a disappointing campaign thus far for the Wine and Gold, who had the best record in the conference last season. The Cavaliers swept the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2025 playoffs but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round in five quick games.
Most people around the NBA don't expect the Cavaliers to make any significant changes to their roster at the 2026 NBA trade deadline despite having the most expensive team in the league. Just because they are talking about a Hunter trade, doesn't mean one will happen.
It will be fascinating to see if Hunter stays in Cleveland and if the Cavaliers advance past the second round of the playoffs this year since 2018, the final campaign of LeBron James' second stint.
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