The Sacramento Kings finally broke the trade deadline silence with a three-team deal that sent Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for forward De’Andre Hunter. It’s a move that speaks to Sacramento’s immediate need on the wing-but it also raises some interesting questions about what’s next.
Let’s start with what we know. Hunter is a solid two-way forward who brings size, defensive versatility, and some scoring punch to a Kings roster that’s been thin at the forward spots all year.
He’s on an expiring deal worth $24 million in the 2026-27 season, which not only gives Sacramento a short-term rotational boost but also some flexibility moving forward. That’s a valuable contract in today’s trade landscape-expiring deals are currency, especially when paired with a player who can still contribute.
Naturally, that’s led to speculation: is Hunter just passing through? Could the Kings flip him again before Thursday’s deadline, or even this summer?
On paper, his salary lines up almost perfectly with Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga, a name that’s been floating around Sacramento’s orbit since the offseason. There’s been mutual interest there, and the Kings have long been intrigued by Kuminga’s upside.
But despite the financial fit, league intel suggests that a deal between the Kings and Warriors is unlikely. Golden State reportedly doesn’t want to take on any money beyond this season, and Hunter’s contract doesn’t fit that timeline.
So while the Hunter-for-Kuminga scenario is fun to think about, don’t hold your breath.
What’s more telling is how the Kings approached the deal that brought Hunter to Sacramento. According to league sources, the front office had been shopping Keon Ellis aggressively, hoping to land a first-round pick in return.
Ellis, a promising young guard with defensive upside, is eligible for an extension next week with Cleveland. But as the deadline approached, teams started to back off.
Minnesota showed serious interest at one point-possibly even offering two second-rounders-but pivoted when bigger fish entered the water. The Timberwolves reportedly shifted focus to a potential blockbuster involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
That’s the kind of move that reshuffles priorities fast. There were also whispers that ownership dynamics in Minnesota played a role in pulling back from the Ellis pursuit.
Indiana was another team in the mix, but the presence of Benedict Mathurin complicated things. The Pacers weren’t eager to give up a late first-rounder for Ellis if it meant adding redundancy at the guard spot. They’re still weighing whether to move Mathurin down the line, and Ellis didn’t quite fit into that equation.
Boston also kicked the tires, though details on their involvement are murkier. Whatever the case, the market cooled, and Sacramento decided not to wait any longer.
That urgency makes sense. The Kings didn’t want to be left on the outside looking in once the trade market heated up.
So they made a move-not for picks, but for a player who can help now and potentially serve as a trade chip later. It’s a calculated swing by first-year GM Scott Perry, who’s already putting his stamp on the franchise.
Let’s not forget how we got here. The Dennis Schroder signing last summer raised eyebrows from the jump.
He was entering his 10th NBA stop, and at 32, he wasn’t exactly a long-term answer at point guard. That became even more evident after the Kings and De’Aaron Fox parted ways last season.
Sacramento needed a new direction at the one, and Schroder was a stopgap at best.
Now, just months later, he’s out the door-along with Ellis, a player the Kings once hoped could be part of their young core. And while Sacramento didn’t get any draft compensation in return, they did land a player in Hunter who fills a need and keeps the door open for future moves.
It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s a sign that the Kings are active, aware, and ready to pivot when the market demands it. Whether this is a one-off or the start of a bigger reshuffling remains to be seen. But with the trade deadline looming, Sacramento has officially entered the chat.