Make that two California teams that the Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly discussing De’Andre Hunter trades with. According to Mike Scotto of HoopsHype, the Cavs and Sacramento Kings have talked through a trade that would send Hunter to Northern California for guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroeder, as well as forward Dario Saric.
Ellis has become a highly sought-after 3-and-D player, garnering plenty of interest across the league from teams looking to make a playoff push. He also becomes extension-eligible on February 9th, and without one would be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. If the Cavs want Ellis, the only way they could get him is through a trade, given their current cap situation.
Schroeder, who makes $14.8 million next season and has a partial guarantee the year after, provides point guard depth, injecting a level of veteran savvy-ness that could be useful for the playoffs. Saric is an expiring contract that could be rerouted to a third team, per Scotto.
Scotto also says the Kings and Cavs have discussed a modified trade that would send Ellis and guard Malik Monk to Cleveland. That seems to be a less desirable option for the Cavs, as Monk is owed quite a bit more money, and the salary situation is already pretty tight. Monk is owed $41.77 million over the next two seasons and has largely not played up to that level.
Other teams that Stein reports checked in on Hunter are the Golden State Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks, though that was before Giannis Antetokounmpo pseudo-requested a trade. The Warriors are in search of deals involving disgruntled forward Jonathan Kuminga, who worked with Cavs’ head coach Kenny Atkinson previously. Meanwhile, the Bucks reportedly offered Kyle Kuzma or Bobby Portis in exchange for Hunter. But, again, this was before Antetokounmpo hit the trade rumor mill.
When it comes to trade season, when there is smoke, there is usually fire. Hunter’s name is not popping up in articles across the NBA landscape by accident - there is real intent by someone to move him. Whether that be the Cavs’ front office or not, it is hard to say. There was, of course, the short-lived rumor as well that Hunter and his representation asked for a trade, which was shot down at the time. Perhaps there was some truth to that as well.
The NBA trade deadline is Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3 PM.