The Cleveland Cavaliers have made an interesting trade, sending De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings. In return, they get Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. The Chicago Bulls are also involved, acquiring Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks.
This deal gives the Cavaliers a solid point guard in Schroder and a strong defender in Ellis. It also helps them save about $50 million in salary and luxury tax this season. As a result, their tax bill drops from $164 million to $120 million. This is a significant shift for the team as they aim to stay under the salary cap next season.
Hunter, 28, is known for his skills as a ‘3-and-D’ player and can help the Kings instantly. He has an average of 14 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. This addition also gives Sacramento more roster flexibility, especially with undrafted rookie Dylan Cardwell. Cardwell has impressed many this season with averages of 4.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in about 20 minutes per game.
The Bulls are taking on Saric’s expiring contract worth $5.4 million. To make room for Saric, they will waive guard Jevon Carter. The trade also sees the Cavs giving a second-round pick to the Bulls from the Denver Nuggets, while the Kings send a second-round pick from 2029 that will be the least favorable among certain teams.
Schroder has been performing well, averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds this season. He is part of a select group, alongside Chicago’s Tre Jones, to average at least 10 points and 5 assists off the bench.
Ellis brings additional value, averaging 5.6 points, and is among the few players in the NBA to tally 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes, sharing that distinction with Detroit’s Ausar Thompson.
The strategic moves by the Cavaliers could signal their commitment to building a competitive roster while managing their finances. Such trades often lead to unexpected outcomes, making the NBA landscape ever-changing.
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