NBA Trade Breakdown: Kings, Cavs, Bulls Shake Things Up - But What’s Sacramento’s Endgame?
Another trade deadline, another head-scratcher from the Sacramento Kings.
Late Saturday night, the Kings, Cavaliers, and Bulls pulled off a three-team deal that sent a ripple through the Western Conference - and took two potential Lakers targets off the board in the process. Here’s how the trade shook out:
- Cleveland acquires Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis from Sacramento.
- Sacramento receives De’Andre Hunter from Cleveland.
- Chicago picks up Dario Šarić and two second-round picks.
It’s a move that raises more questions than answers - particularly for the Kings, who once again zigged where most teams might’ve zagged.
Sacramento’s Gamble: Betting on a Bounce-Back from De’Andre Hunter
Let’s start with the Kings. In Keon Ellis, Sacramento had a young, promising two-way guard who was drawing plenty of interest across the league.
He’s shown flashes of being a legitimate rotation player - the kind of developmental piece that rebuilding or even playoff-hungry teams crave. On a team that doesn’t have a treasure chest of future assets, flipping Ellis for a draft pick or a younger prospect would’ve made a lot of sense.
Instead, they packaged him with Dennis Schröder, who they just signed to a three-year deal this past offseason. That move raised eyebrows back then, especially considering they already had Malik Monk on the roster and had been linked to Zach LaVine and Russell Westbrook. Now, just months later, Schröder is out the door - and Ellis goes with him - in exchange for De’Andre Hunter.
Here’s the thing: Hunter’s not exactly lighting it up right now. In fact, he’s in the midst of a career-worst season.
His scoring efficiency has dipped, his defensive impact has been inconsistent, and he’s under contract through next season. He’s also older than Ellis, which makes this feel less like a forward-thinking move and more like a lateral shuffle - or a misread of where the roster really stands.
If this was about clearing minutes or creating flexibility, there were cleaner ways to do it. If it was about upgrading the wing rotation, it's hard to argue Hunter is the answer right now. So again, we’re left wondering: What’s the bigger plan in Sacramento?
Cleveland’s Quiet Win
For the Cavaliers, this is a sneaky solid move. They offload Hunter, whose fit in Cleveland had become increasingly murky, and bring in a pair of guards who can help in different ways.
Dennis Schröder gives them a veteran ball-handler who can stabilize the second unit and provide insurance behind Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell. He’s not the most efficient scorer, but he’s a pest defensively and knows how to run an offense.
Keon Ellis, meanwhile, is the real upside swing here. He’s on a team-friendly deal, he defends at a high level, and there’s still room for growth in his offensive game. For a Cavs team trying to build depth around their core, this is a smart way to take a shot on a young player with potential.
Bulls Add Picks, Stay Patient
The Bulls, for their part, continue to stockpile assets. They land Dario Šarić, a stretch big who can contribute in spurts, and add two second-round picks to the cupboard. It’s not flashy, but it’s consistent with the approach Chicago’s front office has taken - staying flexible, collecting picks, and waiting for the right opportunity to make a bigger move.
Lakers Watch Two Targets Slip Away
For the Lakers, this trade closes the door on two names that had been linked to them in recent weeks.
Keon Ellis was an intriguing option - young, cheap, and capable of defending at the point of attack. De’Andre Hunter, though more polarizing, had been floated as a potential wing upgrade, albeit with risk attached due to his contract and recent performance.
In the end, the Lakers weren’t likely to match a package like this, especially with Ellis included. And realistically, they shouldn’t have. There are better fits out there for what L.A. needs, and this deal doesn’t dramatically shift the landscape for the top teams in the West.
But it does thin the market just a little - and with the deadline approaching fast, the Lakers will need to pivot quickly.
Final Takeaway
This trade is a win for Cleveland, a quiet plus for Chicago, and a bit of a mystery for Sacramento. Maybe Hunter finds his rhythm in a new environment.
Maybe the Kings see something in him that others don’t. But from the outside looking in, it feels like another case of Sacramento making a move without a clear direction.
And with the West as competitive as it is, that kind of uncertainty can be costly.