In a bold move at the trade deadline, Sacramento acquired De’Andre Hunter in a three-team deal, aiming to bolster their wing size by parting ways with Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to Cleveland. However, Hunter's time with the Kings has hit an unfortunate snag.
Just two games into his Sacramento stint, Hunter suffered an eye injury that sidelined him for the last three games before the All-Star break and the first one after. The injury's severity led to eye surgery on Friday, and the Kings have announced that he will miss the rest of the season, as initially reported by Chris Haynes and Marc Stein.
Hunter’s absence adds to the Kings' growing list of sidelined stars, joining Domantas Sabonis, who is out with a knee injury, and Zach LaVine, who is recovering from hand surgery. It's been a tough season for Sacramento, sitting at 12-45 and currently enduring a 15-game losing streak.
Before his injury, Hunter was averaging 13.7 points and 4.1 rebounds per game between his time in Cleveland and Sacramento, though his shooting from beyond the arc was a modest 30.5%. Looking ahead, Hunter remains under contract for the next season at $24.9 million, after which he will enter free agency. The Kings will need to navigate the remainder of this challenging season without him, hoping for a brighter future with a healthier roster.