Lakers, Lakers trade, De'Andre Hunter, NBA trade deadline
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Los Angeles Lakers head coach JJ Redick congratulates Lakers LeBron James after the team pulls away from the Memphis Grizzlies to win 121-128 at Crypto.com Arena on January 2, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly in advanced talks in a deal that would send De’Andre Hunter to Los Angeles for a package involving Rui Hachimura and second-year wing Dalton Knecht. A third team could reportedly get involved to make the financials work.
The major development was reported on by Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor.
“My sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De’Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht and then bringing in a third team,” Fedor said on the “Wine and Gold Talk” podcast, via Bleacher Report.
The report added that the Brooklyn Nets or the Utah Jazz, the teams with the league’s lowest payrolls, could be the third team to absorb salaries.
Lakers Trade Target: De’Andre Hunter
The buzz of a Lakers trade for the Cavaliers wing gathered steam after insider Matt Moore reported a few weeks ago that Rich Paul, the agent of LeBron James, was pushing for the team to target either Miles Bridges or Hunter to shore up their wing depth. The Lakers rank 25th in defensive rating and 16th in 3P%, two areas that Hunter, a quintessential 3-and-D player, could definitely help with.
Hunter, though, is not having the best of seasons. The 28-year-old has shot a career-low 31% from three this season and has seen his minutes gradually decrease over the past few months. He began his first full year in Cleveland on a strong note, averaging 18.3 points in October and 17.1 minutes in November, while logging 29 minutes per game. Those numbers have dropped drastically since December, with his minutes falling to 22.4 since the start of 2026. He reportedly sought a trade earlier this month.
NBA Trade Deadline Nears
According to multiple insiders, Hunter’s trade value isn’t very high due to his $24.9 million salary in 2026-27, which rival teams feel is overpaid for his current production. That’s why the Lakers have an opportunity to land him for a low price, and since he’d come off the books in 2027, he won’t disrupt their ambitious plans for that summer.
ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel reported this week that Hunter’s low value has made him particularly attractive to the Lakers, who have limited draft assets to move before next Thursday’s NBA trade deadline.
“The Lakers are active in trade talks to try and get a 3-and-D wing, and De’Andre Hunter is certainly at the top of their list,” he told Clutch Scoops.
“The Cavs want value back that they sent out to get Hunter from the Hawks,” he continued. “It doesn’t seem like they’re going to get that, and since then, we’ve heard directly from sources that the Cavaliers are actively discussing trades involving Hunter, and he’s likely to be on the move in the coming week.
“One of the teams we keep hearing in connection to De’Andre Hunter, and it makes a lot of sense given their need for a three-and-D wing ever since the offseason, is the Los Angeles Lakers.”
Hunter is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 42/31/88 shooting splits. He has made 1.7 threes per game in his 42 appearances this season.