The Cleveland Cavaliers are shaking things up ahead of the deadline, pulling off a three-team trade that sends De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings in a move involving the Chicago Bulls as well.
Here’s how it breaks down: Cleveland is bringing in veteran point guard Dennis Schröder and young guard Keon Ellis from Sacramento. In turn, the Kings are acquiring Hunter, while the Bulls are receiving Dario Šarić and a pair of future second-round picks from Sacramento. To make room on the roster, Chicago is waiving Jevon Carter.
Let’s start with the headline name: De’Andre Hunter. The swingman is earning $23.3 million this season and is set to make $29.4 million next year, which is the final season of his current deal.
Cleveland brought him in from Atlanta last season, and he played in 70 games for the Cavs, offering his trademark 3-and-D versatility. Hunter’s career averages - 14.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists - speak to a steady, if not flashy, contributor who can guard multiple positions and knock down perimeter shots.
For a Kings team searching for answers at the wing and sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, Hunter gives them a proven two-way presence with a bit of upside still left to tap into.
For Cleveland, this is about bolstering the backcourt with experience and depth. Schröder, now on his 11th NBA team, brings a veteran presence and a proven ability to run an offense.
He’s making $14.1 million this season, part of a $44 million deal he signed with Detroit before being dealt to Sacramento. While he’s bounced around the league, Schröder has consistently produced - 13.9 points and 4.9 assists per game over his career - and gives the Cavs a reliable option behind or alongside Darius Garland, depending on how J.B.
Bickerstaff wants to stagger his guards.
Keon Ellis, meanwhile, is a low-cost, high-upside addition. On the final year of a $2.3 million deal, Ellis has shown flashes as a defensive-minded guard who can knock down the occasional three. His career numbers - 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists - don’t jump off the page, but he’s the kind of player who can carve out a role with energy and effort, especially on a team like Cleveland that prides itself on defense.
The Bulls, for their part, are taking a flyer on Šarić, who’s in the final year of a $5.4 million contract. The big man has been a journeyman in recent years, suiting up for seven different teams, but he’s still a capable stretch-four who can space the floor and move the ball.
His career averages - 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists - reflect a player who fits well in second units or as a floor-spacing complement to more ball-dominant stars. Chicago, currently clinging to ninth in the East, adds some frontcourt depth while picking up two second-rounders for their trouble.
As for Carter, the Bulls are waiving him to make room for Šarić. It’s a tough break for a player who’s shown value as a gritty defender and spot-up shooter, but it’s the kind of move teams make when trying to tweak the margins midseason.
With the Cavs sitting fifth in the East and looking to solidify their playoff push, this trade gives them flexibility and added playmaking. The Bulls, still in the Play-In mix, add a veteran big and future assets. And for the Kings, who are buried at the bottom of the West, it’s a move that brings in a starting-caliber wing who could be a longer-term fit if things click.
Bottom line: each team addressed a different need - Cleveland gets veteran guard play, Sacramento adds wing scoring and defense, and Chicago picks up depth and draft capital. It’s not the kind of blockbuster that shakes the league, but it’s the type of deal that could quietly pay dividends down the stretch.