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LaMelo Ball #1 of the Charlotte Hornets greets Lonzo Ball #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Both factor into NBA trade rumors.
The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the second big trade of the NBA season in shipping out forward De’Andre Hunter to the Kings while bringing back wing Keon Ellis and point guard Dennis Schroder, also shipping a second-round pick to the Bulls in the bargain. It is a deal that would have seemed improbable before the start of the season, but a couple of things became clear as the year went on.
For one thing, the Cavs and Hunter just were not a fit anymore. Hunter slotted in nicely after coming over from the Hawks at the 2025 deadline, but things changed this year. It’s difficult to pinpoint why, but speculation from Cleveland is that Hunter operates well as a No. 3 or 4 option, and with the injuries the team had this season (Darius Garland, Max Strus, Evan Mobley) more was required from Hunter.
He was not up to it, and at his price ($23 million this year and $25 million next year), the Cavs wanted to move on sooner rather than later. The other issue is that the Cavs miss backup guard Ty Jerome, and it is clear that Lonzo Ball (4.6 points, 30.1% shooting, 27.2% 3-point shooting) is not cutting the mustard. The Cavaliers could use Schroder to fill that role.
NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers May Have More Coming
There’s still a chance that the Cavaliers could do more in the coming days as the deadline nears. That could include trading Schroder, but that’s not the preference. Ultimately, the Cavaliers want to unload the contract of Ball, which runs for $10 million this year and has a team option for next year, and if they can do so without taking back significantly salary, that would be ideal.
Cleveland saved more than $8 million in the Hunter trade, and is still around $14 million over the second apron of the luxury tax. They’d like to unload Ball and save as much as they can toward the tax bill, but it will not be easy to find a taker.
“It’s a tough needle to thread, getting better as a team and saving money and cutting payroll, but the Hunter deal did that for them,” one NBA exec said. “Now they’ve just got to do it again.”
Nets Could Be Patient
The Brooklyn Nets remain a team of interest, with several players sought by other teams, from Michael Porter Jr. to Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe and even Cam Thomas. But they’re signaling that they’re willing to wait on deals.
“The Nets would be perfectly fine letting this trade deadline go with Porter still on the roster and seeing if they can get two first-rounders next summer,” one Eastern Conference GM said. “They can be patient. They’re bad with him (12-34) so it is not like they need to trade him to tank. Everything else is just collecting assets, using their cap space to fill a spot and take on a pick.”
Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the mysteries of the NBA trade rumor mill.
GettyMichael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets is one of the mysteries of the NBA trade rumor mill.
Lakers Shopping Former Starter
The Lakers are shopping Rui Hachimura, though that is a situation in which they’re having a hard time finding a taker. Hachimura can be a free agent next summer.
“There are teams they like Rui and would want to keep him with Bird rights,” the executive said. “But first you’ve got to find a team that wants him, and then you have to see if there’s anything that matches up with what they need, and then you’ve got to make sure the contract does not last past this year. They’re listening on him. They’re shopping him. But they’re not getting the return they want for him.”
Eastern Conference NBA Trade Rumors
The Pacers have quietly made their mark in NBA trade rumors, as they are gathering up offers on Bennedict Mathurin and hoping to wring a first-round pick for him. Mathurin is heading into restricted free agency, and the Pacers are hoping to cash out on him before having to deal with that process. He’s averaging 17.6 points and shooting 37.9% from the 3-point line this year.
The Bulls are simultaneously sellers and buyers at the deadline. They picked up two second-round picks in the Cavs-Kings trade but would be opening to add. They’d like to move Nikola Vucevic and Coby White in the next week, but are not necessarily looking for just draft picks in return. “They want to get better, they’ve been telling people,” one NBA source said. “Whoever they send out, they want someone who is going to help them now in return.”
The Celtics might end up selling off Chris Boucher at the trade deadline, but may not get much else done. They do not want to sacrifice first-round picks, and they do not want to take on additional salary, which has always put rumors about Boston getting a starting-caliber big man on thin ice.