With the NBA trade deadline fast approaching on February 5, the Los Angeles Lakers are once again in the thick of the rumor mill-this time, reportedly eyeing Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter as a potential trade target. The Lakers, currently searching for a 3-and-D wing to bolster their rotation, may see Hunter as a logical fit-at least on paper.
Hunter recently put together a solid performance against the Lakers, and that may have only strengthened L.A.’s interest. According to league sources, the Lakers and Cavaliers have explored a preliminary trade framework involving Hunter, with Rui Hachimura and rookie Dalton Knecht potentially heading out of Los Angeles. A third team would likely need to be involved to make the financials work under the NBA’s tight salary cap restrictions.
Here’s the situation in more detail: The Lakers are operating just $900,000 below the first tax apron, which limits their flexibility in structuring trades. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers face their own hurdles.
They can’t aggregate salaries in a deal and only have one tradable first-round pick available, which means any move has to be precise in terms of salary matching. That’s where a third team could come into play, helping to balance the books and facilitate a deal that works for all parties.
Hunter, 26, has seen a dip in production this season, coming off the bench for the Cavs and averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in just over 26 minutes per game. His shooting has taken a hit-42.2% from the field and just 30.9% from beyond the arc-both well below his career averages of 44.8% and 36.5%, respectively.
Still, the Lakers may be betting on a bounce-back. If Hunter can return to form, his ability to defend on the perimeter and knock down threes could fill a glaring hole in L.A.’s rotation.
But there’s a longer-term consideration here, too. Hunter is under contract through next season at $24.9 million, and the Lakers have made it clear they want to preserve cap space heading into the summer. Taking on Hunter’s deal would limit their flexibility, so any trade would signal a commitment to short-term improvement over long-term maneuverability.
As for Hachimura and Knecht, both names have surfaced in trade discussions. Hachimura, who signed a three-year deal with the Lakers last offseason, has had an up-and-down campaign. Knecht, the rookie sharpshooter, hasn’t quite found his rhythm in L.A., and there’s a growing belief that a change of scenery could benefit his development.
If this deal-or something like it-comes together, it would be a calculated risk for the Lakers. They’d be banking on Hunter rediscovering his form and giving them the kind of two-way wing play that’s become essential in today’s NBA. At the same time, they’d be parting with two young pieces, including a promising rookie, and sacrificing some future financial flexibility.
It’s the kind of high-wire act we’ve come to expect from the Lakers front office: balancing win-now urgency with long-term planning. With the deadline just days away, we’ll find out soon enough whether they’re ready to make that leap.