The Sacramento Kings have done something fans have been clamoring for over the years–they traded for a wing.
Sacramento completed a trade over the weekend that sent guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to the Cleveland Cavaliers in return for veteran forward De’Andre Hunter, a player that many view as an ideal partner for Keegan Murray in the front court.
NBC Sports California analyst Kayte Christensen joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to share her thoughts on the addition of Hunter, who is expected to make his Sacramento Kings debut at Golden 1 Center during a three-game homestand that tips off on Wednesday night.
“I think that he gives, first of all, some size at that position and some depth at that position, which is something the Kings haven’t necessarily had,” Christensen said of Hunter. “So much of this season has been guys playing out of position because of injuries and whatnot.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 16: De'andre Hunter #12 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates during the second half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on January 16, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
More on Sacramento Kings forward De’Andre Hunter
“When you look at the roster as it stood at the beginning of the season, that was a particularly shallow pool to draw from,” Christensen continued. “The backcourt was jam-packed with guys, and that’s why Dennis and Keon leaving opens up some opportunities for other players, because there was such a logjam in those positions.”
Hunter, a 6’8 forward with an impressive 7’2 wingspan, make him an ideal candidate to take over one of Sacramento’s starting forward spots alongside Murray as the season winds down.
Christensen said the addition of Hunter brings much-needed versatility, especially on the defensive end.
“Defensively, yeah, you mentioned he’s 6-foot-7, and I think he’s got like a 7-foot-2 wingspan,” Christensen said. “I never really felt like he fit in Cleveland. On paper, everyone thought he would, but I don’t think he was ever able to make the same type of impact there that he did in Atlanta.”
“I think he’s a perfect example of system and fit,” Christensen continued. “So I’m really, really excited to see how they use him. Of course, who knows if this roster changes anymore by tomorrow? It’s kind of hard to make a guesstimate of what’s going to happen until we know what the roster looks like to close out the season.”
The impact on the defensive end can’t be understated when it comes to Hunter, and the Sacramento Kings have arguably been the worst defensive team in the NBA this season.
Adding players like Hunter, an interchangible forward who can defend multiple positions, sets Sacramento up for the future.
“He’s a three-and-D guy, right? Defensively, he impacts the game on the perimeter, but he’s also really, really good on the help side,” Christensen said. “Because of his length and that wingspan, I’ve seen clips — chase-down blocks, things like that. He adds a lot of versatility on the defensive end of the floor, for sure.
“When you look at Keegan Murray — to me, he’s the best defensive player on this Kings roster — a lot of that is because of his versatility,” Christensen said. “But because of that, I think his offensive game suffers a little bit with how much he’s asked to do on the other end. I think this addition will be really interesting in terms of how they use him alongside Keegan and how they deploy both guys at that position.”
Be sure to check out the entire interview with Sacramento Kings broadcaster for NBC Sports’ Kayte Christensen at the top of this page, or on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube channel.
Listen to The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross from 6 – 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.
Click here for full episodes of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross.
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Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season
Wednesday, February 4th – vs. Memphis Grizzlies – 7:00 PM PT
Friday, February 6th – vs. Los Angeles Clippers – 7:00 PM PT
Saturday, February 7th – vs. Cleveland Cavaliers – 7:00 PM PT
Monday, February 9th – @ New Orleans Pelicans – 5:00 PM PT
Wednesday, February 11th – @ Utah Jazz – 6:00 PM PT
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