Cavs’ Trade for Schröder, Ellis Signals Bigger Moves Could Be Coming - But Not Just Yet
The Cleveland Cavaliers made a move this weekend that, on the surface, might look like a simple roster tweak: De’Andre Hunter is headed to Sacramento, and in return, the Cavs get guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis. But if you stop at the names on the transaction sheet, you’re missing the bigger picture.
This trade wasn’t just about talent - it was about flexibility. And for a franchise that’s been boxed in by the salary cap for the better part of a year, that’s no small thing.
Let’s start with the basketball side. Schröder brings instant energy and veteran savvy to Cleveland’s second unit.
He can run an offense, push the pace, and get downhill - something the Cavs have lacked when Darius Garland is off the floor. Ellis, meanwhile, gives Cleveland a defensive-minded guard who can hit the three and hound opposing ball-handlers at the point of attack.
Both can help right now, and that matters for a team that’s won eight of its last ten and is climbing the Eastern Conference standings.
But make no mistake: the real prize here is financial breathing room.
Before the deal, Cleveland was stuck about $14 million over the second apron of the luxury tax - a line that doesn’t just cost money, it costs options. Teams above the second apron face serious restrictions: no mid-level exception, no aggregating salaries in trades, and limited flexibility in the buyout market. It’s a cap-space straitjacket.
Now? The Cavs are suddenly within striking distance of breaking free.
They’re one Max Strus-sized contract ($15.9 million) - or a Lonzo Ball-type deal ($10 million) plus a couple of minimums - away from ducking under that second apron. That might not sound like much, but in the world of NBA roster construction, it’s a game-changer.
It opens the door to real maneuverability this summer. And if Cleveland decides to take that route, some of those trade machine fantasies involving the Core Four might not feel so far-fetched.
Of course, the Cavs are still very much in the thick of this season. They’ve been winning - and not just with their stars.
Seven of those recent wins came without Garland. Two came without both Garland and Evan Mobley.
That’s no small feat, and it speaks to the depth and resilience of this group. Schröder and Ellis can absolutely help them keep that momentum going.
But Cleveland fans know better than to get too high on a midseason hot streak. This team, built around Garland, Mobley, Donovan Mitchell, and Jarrett Allen, is now more than three years into its run.
In that time, they’ve won just two playoff series. At the moment, they sit seventh in offensive rating, 13th in defensive rating, and are tied for fourth in a watered-down East.
It’s a team that’s good - but still searching for great.
And with Mitchell’s contract ticking toward its final guaranteed year, the clock is very much running. He has a player option after next season, and the Cavs need to show him - and themselves - that they’re building something sustainable.
That means asking hard questions.
Short-term: Garland’s absence has clearly impacted the offense. When he’s healthy, the attack flows better.
Long-term: Garland’s missed time in three straight seasons. Can you rely on him to be your engine?
Short-term: Mobley was starting to look like an All-NBA talent again before another calf strain sidelined him.
Long-term: He didn’t take the leap many expected at the start of the year. And Mitchell, who turns 30 next season, can’t wait forever.
Short-term: Hunter didn’t fit quite the way the Cavs hoped.
Long-term: Moving his contract for smaller, more manageable deals gives the front office a chance to reshape the roster this summer.
That’s the thread connecting all of this: potential. The Hunter trade wasn’t just a salary dump or a win-now move.
It was a pivot point. A reset button.
A way for Koby Altman and the front office to admit a miss, course-correct, and open up new possibilities.
And let’s not forget: Schröder is more than just a backup point guard. He brings an edge, a fire, and a presence in the locker room.
Ellis is a 3-and-D guard who fits the Cavs’ defensive identity. Plus, Hunter’s departure clears the way for second-year forward Jaylon Tyson, who’s been coming into his own.
Now, Cleveland can lean into his development without worrying about stepping on anyone’s toes.
So yes, this trade could end up being a win on multiple fronts. But the real verdict won’t come until the summer. When the dust settles, and Altman decides how to use the flexibility he just created, that’s when we’ll really know what this deal meant.
Until then, the red pens can stay in the drawer.