Just a few days ago, trade chatter between the Lakers and Cavaliers picked up steam, with reports surfacing that Los Angeles had explored a deal centered around De’Andre Hunter. Rui Hachimura’s name was also floated in the framework, suggesting the Lakers were at least kicking the tires on a move to shake up their forward rotation.
But as quickly as the rumor caught fire, it cooled. Two league insiders, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, reported that the Lakers’ interest in Hunter may have been a bit overstated. And any chance of a deal was ultimately rendered moot when Hunter was traded to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
Still, the smoke wasn't entirely without fire. According to The Athletic’s Dan Woike, the Lakers did have interest in Hunter-but with a catch.
Their pursuit was reportedly tied to the possibility of including Jarred Vanderbilt in the deal. That’s where the math-and the strategy-gets interesting.
Vanderbilt is under contract for $12.4 million next season, with a $13.2 million player option in 2027. That’s a chunk of future salary the Lakers are clearly keeping an eye on. Acquiring Hunter without sending out Vanderbilt would’ve meant taking on nearly $25 million in long-term salary, a move that could’ve handcuffed the team’s financial flexibility heading into a pivotal offseason.
That flexibility matters, and not just in theory. The Lakers are looking ahead to the summer with big plans-possibly even Giannis-sized.
While there’s no confirmation that Giannis Antetokounmpo is eyeing L.A., and no guarantee he’s even available, Stein noted the Lakers are positioned to be a “very viable threat” should the Bucks superstar become available. Whether it’s Giannis or a package of high-level role players, the Lakers want to be ready.
As for Vanderbilt, he remains a key piece off the bench for the Lakers this season. His energy and defensive versatility have continued to be valuable, but his offensive game-particularly his shooting-hasn’t quite taken the leap the team hoped for.
After showing some promise from deep in December, Vanderbilt shot just 20% from three-point range in January. That kind of inconsistency puts a ceiling on his impact, especially in a system that needs floor spacing around LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The takeaway here? The Lakers are threading a needle-trying to stay competitive now while keeping their powder dry for a potentially transformative summer. The Hunter talks may not have gone anywhere, but they offer a window into the front office’s mindset: opportunistic, strategic, and always looking a few moves ahead.