After days of buzz and behind-the-scenes maneuvering, the Cleveland Cavaliers have officially moved on from De’Andre Hunter. In a three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls, the Cavs shipped Hunter to Sacramento and brought in Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis. Meanwhile, Dario Saric, a 2029 second-rounder from the Kings, and the Denver Nuggets’ 2027 second-round pick (which Cleveland previously held) are heading to Chicago.
This marks the end of a short, uneven stint for Hunter in Cleveland. The Cavs picked him up at last season’s trade deadline hoping he could be a long-term fit on the wing.
Early returns were promising-he gave them solid minutes to close out the regular season-but when the lights got brighter in the playoffs, things changed. A thumb injury sidelined him for Game 2 of their second-round series against Indiana, and even when he returned, he didn’t look right.
Over that series, Hunter averaged just 9 points and 4.5 boards while shooting 36.7% from the field. Not exactly the impact Cleveland was hoping for.
That postseason dip bled into this season. Hunter was given a chance to lock down a starting role, but he struggled to find rhythm or consistency.
As a starter, he put up 15.4 points per game, but his shooting splits-42.9% from the field, just 30.3% from deep-told the story. Add in a noticeable drop in defensive intensity, and it wasn’t long before he was moved to the bench.
Unfortunately, the shift to a reserve role didn’t spark a turnaround. In 43 games with Cleveland, Hunter averaged 14 points and 4.2 rebounds, shooting 42.3% overall and 30.8% from three. For a team trying to compete in the East, that kind of production from a key rotation piece just wasn’t going to cut it.
Now, the Cavaliers are turning the page-and trying to patch a few holes in the process. Perimeter defense has been a sore spot since they dealt Isaac Okoro this past summer, and that’s where Keon Ellis could help.
At 6’4”, Ellis is a bit undersized for a wing, but he’s built his reputation on defense. He brings energy, lateral quickness, and a tenacity on the perimeter that Cleveland’s been missing.
That said, the backcourt’s already crowded with Donovan Mitchell, Sam Merrill, and Max Strus all logging minutes at the two. Finding minutes for Ellis won’t be easy, but if he can carve out a role with his defense, he could be a sneaky valuable addition.
Offensively, Ellis is still developing. He’s averaging 5.6 points and 1.3 rebounds on 39.7% shooting overall, with a respectable 36.8% from beyond the arc. He’s not going to carry the offense, but if he can knock down open looks and defend at a high level, that’s a win for Cleveland.
Then there’s Dennis Schroder. The veteran guard gives the Cavs a much-needed stabilizer at the backup point guard spot, especially with Lonzo Ball’s future in Cleveland looking increasingly uncertain.
Schroder brings experience, speed, and the ability to create offense off the dribble-something the second unit has lacked at times this season. He’s putting up 12.8 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 40.8% from the field and 34.3% from three.
He’s not the most efficient scorer, but he knows how to run an offense and can hold his own defensively.
Financially, the deal gives Cleveland some breathing room-sort of. The move cuts $50 million off their luxury tax bill this season, which is no small thing.
But they’re still $13.9 million over the second apron, and Schroder’s contract isn’t exactly light: he’s owed $14.8 million next season and $15.5 million in 2026-27, though only $4.3 million of that final year is guaranteed. Ellis, meanwhile, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer unless Cleveland extends him.
With the trade deadline looming on Feb. 5, this might not be the Cavs’ final move. But for now, they’ve reshuffled the deck-adding a defensive-minded guard, a steady veteran at the point, and clearing out a wing that never quite fit. Whether it’s enough to push them closer to contention remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the front office isn’t sitting still.