Keon Ellis was a popular name on the 2026 NBA trade market.
He had several teams interested in his services, with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers being his most prominent suitors over this past week.
While the Lakers seemingly had him at the top of their list, Ellis is Cleveland-bound. On Saturday night, it was revealed that a three-team deal went down, and Ellis will now join the Cavaliers. On Sunday morning, Ellis took to Instagram to share his subtle reaction to the deal. It's safe to say he's looking forward to the change.
A picture of Ellis donning his new threads with a simple emoji is all the veteran guard had to say so far.
Ellis is set to get a fresh start, taking a major step in his young career.
On a personal note, Ellis is playing out the final year of his team-friendly deal. The 26-year-old is making $2.3 million out of his $5.1 million contract. He is eligible to get an extension this month, but he could become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the next offseason.
On a team level, Ellis joins a much more favorable situation. The Kings started the 2025-2026 NBA season with high hopes of being playoff contenders. They've slipped to the bottom of the Western Conference and aren't showing any signs of bouncing back.
At 12-38, the Kings are 15th in the Western Conference. They are in the midst of an eight-game losing streak. With the deadline approaching, the Kings could be offloading a handful of notable players. In exchange for Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Dario Saric, the Kings have acquired De'Andre Hunter.
Ellis lands in Cleveland with Schroder, while Saric gets sent to the Chicago Bulls. Unlike the Kings, the Cavaliers are fighting for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. As of Sunday, they hold a 29-21 record, which places them fifth in the Eastern Conference. Ellis and Schroder should quickly find themselves in a productive role, as the Cavs look to make a strong postseason push this year.
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