De’Andre Hunter Set for Kings Debut Amid Roster Shake-Up and High Hopes
The Sacramento Kings are gearing up for a fresh look on Wednesday night, as newly acquired forward De’Andre Hunter is expected to make his debut against the Memphis Grizzlies at Golden 1 Center. The move to bring in Hunter has sparked plenty of conversation around the league, with some questioning the cost of the trade-but inside the Kings' locker room, there's a palpable sense of excitement about what the 6-foot-7 wing can bring to the floor.
“Watching him on the defensive end makes me smile,” said Kings head coach Doug Christie, who’s clearly eager to get Hunter into the mix. “Elite length and athleticism, knowing that he can stretch the floor and shoot the three, has midrange, just a really, really good player and a smart player.
Very heady as far as the communication. We’ll get him in the game and I’m excited to see him get out there.”
Hunter, 28, spoke with the media after Tuesday’s practice, settling into his new surroundings and embracing the opportunity to join a veteran-heavy squad that includes Russell Westbrook, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Keegan Murray, and Domantas Sabonis. While the roster could still shift ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, Hunter is focused on what’s in front of him.
“There’s good energy here,” Hunter said. “A lot of great coaches that have a lot of experience in the league and a lot of experienced players who have been good in the league for a while, so I’m just excited for a new opportunity.”
The Kings pulled off a three-team trade to land Hunter, sending Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis to the Cavaliers, while Dario Saric and a second-round pick went to the Bulls. The move wasn’t without its critics-particularly when it came to parting with Ellis and draft compensation-but Sacramento had its reasons.
Ellis, who struggled to carve out minutes in a crowded backcourt, is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. According to Kings guard Malik Monk, Ellis was ready for a change. “He wanted to go,” Monk told reporters on Tuesday, confirming what many around the team had sensed.
From a front office perspective, first-year GM Scott Perry may prefer to stockpile picks as part of Sacramento’s long-term rebuild, but the second-rounder involved in this deal-projected to be the least favorable of those owned by the Pistons, Bucks, and Knicks in 2026-wasn’t viewed as a significant asset.
Beyond Hunter himself, the trade also helps balance the roster. With the backcourt logjam eased, rookie Nique Clifford is likely to see more minutes, and there’s now room for the Kings to convert rookie two-way center Dylan Cardwell to a standard NBA contract. While the deal hasn’t been formally announced, Christie all but confirmed it, saying he’s “proud of Dylan” and “super excited” for what’s ahead.
But the biggest intrigue centers on what Hunter brings to the court. He’s a prototypical modern wing-long, athletic, and versatile on both ends.
With a 7-foot-2 wingspan and the ability to defend multiple positions, he fits the mold of the 3-and-D archetype that teams covet. And with Keegan Murray still sidelined for at least two more weeks due to a left ankle sprain, Hunter will have an immediate opportunity to make an impact.
Christie, for one, is already envisioning what a Hunter-Murray pairing could look like once both are healthy.
“When you think about it, you’ve got two long wings,” Christie said. “Both of them can shoot the basketball.
Both of them can pretty much guard one through five. Rebounding, cutting, midrange, and they both play the right way for the right reasons.
They are team players. They are going to move the basketball, move their bodies.
When you talk about next actions, when we talk about crashing, all the little things that equate to winning, both of them do that, so I’m really excited to see them out there together.”
Hunter echoed that sentiment, saying he’s comfortable playing either forward spot and looking forward to teaming up with Murray.
“I’m very comfortable playing both,” he said. “I’ve been doing it for the last four or five years, so it’s not really difficult to adjust to. And playing with a guy like Keegan, another versatile guy who can defend, who can shoot, who can score-I think it will be fun.
“He’s another guy with size, another guy who can guard one through four. As a guy who can do that, it’s always good to see another dude on the court who can help you out when you’re tired.”
The Kings are banking on that kind of synergy-between players, between roles, and between now and the future. Whether this trade proves to be a turning point or just another chapter in the Kings’ ongoing rebuild remains to be seen. But for now, Sacramento is leaning into the upside, and De’Andre Hunter is ready to get to work.