The Cleveland Cavaliers are trading De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, sources told ESPN.
The three-team deal includes the Chicago Bulls acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks, sources said.
The Cavaliers turn Hunter’s salary slot into two guards for their depth in point guard help with Schroder and a top defender on the market with Ellis. The Cavaliers also save about $50 million in salary and luxury tax bills this season due to the transaction and drops their tax bill from $164 million to $120 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
This also positions Cleveland is to get under the second apron next season. Ellis is on an expiring $2.3 million contract, but is eligible to sign up to a 3-year, $52 million extension starting on Feb. 9. Despite being an apron team next year, Cleveland can resign Ellis and exceed the threshold.
The Kings receive an established ‘3-and-D’ wing under contract through next season at the age of 28 in Hunter, who has averaged 14 points and 4.2 rebounds. It also brings roster flexibility to the Kings, including space to convert two-way center Dylan Cardwell to a standard NBA deal.
Cardwell has been a revelation for the Kings as an undrafted rookie, averaging 4.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 blocks in 19.4 minutes per game.
Saric is on an expiring contract worth $5.4 million, which the Bulls will absorb and net future assets to consummate the trade.
Schroder is averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds this season, his first after signing a three-year deal to join the Kings last summer. Schroder is owed $14.1 million, $14.8 million and $15.5 million on the final three years of his deal, with the final year partially guaranteed.
Schroder and Chicago’s Tre Jones are the only players averaging 10 points and 5 assists off the bench this season.
Ellis, who has averaged 5.6 points, is one of two players in the NBA averaging 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes this season, joining Detroit’s Ausar Thompson. He will be extension eligible on Feb. 9.
Sacramento will take on the $23.3 million and $24.9 million in the final two years of Hunter’s deal.