The Cleveland Cavaliers are heating up at just the right time. After a rocky start to the season, they now find themselves just one game back of the New York Knicks for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. That kind of surge changes the math for a front office-and it might be enough to push Koby Altman and company into making a move ahead of the February 5 trade deadline.
One name reportedly on Cleveland’s radar? Keon Ellis, the 26-year-old guard currently with the Sacramento Kings.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Cavs have officially entered the mix for Ellis, but it won’t be an easy get. Per The Athletic’s Sam Amick, there are around 10 teams circling Ellis as a potential trade target, and with the deadline fast approaching, a deal seems more likely than not.
Ellis is the kind of under-the-radar player who tends to pop up in these midseason trade talks. He’s not a household name, but he’s been on the radar for a while now-especially after stepping into a starting role last season and showing he could hold his own. He’s a classic 3-and-D archetype: capable of knocking down shots from deep, defending multiple positions, and bringing energy on both ends of the floor.
The numbers back it up. On a per-36-minute basis this season, Ellis is averaging 11.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.0 blocks, and 2.5 made threes.
His shooting splits-40% from the field, 36% from three, and 63% from the line-aren’t flawless, but the defensive impact jumps off the page. He’s a disruptor on the perimeter, and that’s exactly the kind of presence Cleveland could use.
The Cavaliers’ backcourt is explosive offensively, but defense has been a different story. Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland are elite scorers, but neither is known for locking down opposing guards. Jaylon Tyson has shown growth on that end, but adding another perimeter defender-especially one who can also space the floor-could be a game-changer for Kenny Atkinson’s rotation.
Of course, there are questions. Ellis is only averaging 17.6 minutes per game on a struggling Kings team that sits at 12-37.
That raises eyebrows-if he’s this good, why isn’t he playing more? Some of it comes down to Sacramento’s guard-heavy roster and ongoing roster reshuffling.
But it also speaks to the risk involved: Ellis has shown flashes, but he hasn’t consistently produced in a larger role.
Still, there’s value in the contract. Ellis is on a team-friendly deal, earning just $2.3 million this season.
For a team like Cleveland, which is already navigating a tight cap sheet, that kind of flexibility matters. It allows the Cavs to upgrade their rotation without giving up major salary or long-term assets.
The challenge? The market.
With so many teams reportedly in pursuit, the price for Ellis could climb higher than expected. But for a Cavaliers squad that’s found its rhythm and could be just a piece or two away from making real noise in the East, standing pat might not be an option.
If the Cavs believe they’re close-and their recent play suggests they are-then taking a swing on a player like Ellis makes a lot of sense. He won’t be the headline name of the trade deadline, but sometimes it’s the low-key additions that end up making the biggest difference in April and May.