Keon Ellis
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The Sacramento Kings traded Keon Ellis to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder from the Sacramento Kings as part of a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls. Ellis and Schroder are yet to make their debut for the Cavs, but they could play their first game soon.
According to NBA.com, the deal was made official on Sunday after each team confirmed the deal on their websites.
“After careful evaluation and a clearer view of the Eastern Conference landscape, we believe adding Dennis and Keon strengthens our depth, expands our flexibility, and positions us to keep building a championship-caliber team now and into the future,” Cavs president Koby Altman said.
Altman wished De’Andre Hunter, who was traded to the Kings, the best in the latest chapter of his career. The Cavs also acquired Emanuel Miller from the Bulls, with Luke Travers getting waived.
“We drafted Luke in 2022 and have seen his development improve each year and thank him for his contributions to the franchise,” Altman said.
Another player who was part of the three-team deal was Dario Saric. He went from Sacramento to Chicago and could make his debut for the Bulls on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks, as per CBS Sports.
Ellis, Schroder Meeting Cavs in Los Angeles
Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder haven’t arrived in Cleveland since the team is in the middle of a five-game road trip, which began on January 30 against the Phoenix Suns.
Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reported that Ellis and Schroder are set to meet the Cavaliers in Los Angeles ahead of their visit to the Intuit Dome on Wednesday.
“Cavs plan is for newbies Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to meet the team in Los Angeles — the next stop on this current road trip. Other members of the organization — who were back home to start this trip working on trade stuff — are also en route to LA for this coming week,” Fedor tweeted.
The Cavs are looking to build some momentum after beating the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in their second game of the road trip. Ellis and Schroder, who could both make their Cavs debuts on February 4 against the Los Angeles Clippers, would give the team a huge boost off the bench.
What Do Ellis and Schroder Bring to the Cavs?
Chris Fedor and Ethan Sands discussed the three-team trade on a recent episode of the Wine and Gold Talk podcast. They explained why the acquisition of Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder was huge for the Cavaliers.
Sands pointed to Ellis’ defensive presence as his main contribution to the Cavs, especially for their expected surge after the All-Star break.
“Sacramento opponents were turning the ball over 17.1% of their possessions when Keon Ellis was on the floor. That mark’s in the 92nd percentile in the NBA,” Sands said.
Meanwhile, Fedor liked Schroder’s addition to mitigate Darius Garland‘s extended absence due to a toe injury. Schroder has the experience to fill in for Garland until he’s available to play. He is also capable of being an elite sixth man, providing scoring and playmaking off the bench.