The Sacramento Kings have traded Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder to the Cleveland Cavaliers for De’Andre Hunter, according to a report by Shams Charania.
The deal also includes the Chicago Bulls acquiring Dario Saric from the Kings, and two future second-round picks (2029 from the Kings and 2027 from the Cavs, according to Sam Amick). It was reported recently the Kings were looking for a late first round pick for Ellis.
Schroder is owed $44 million on his three-year deal. Saric has an expiring $5.4 million deal. Ellis has an expiring $2.3 million deal. The Kings take on $48 million for Hunter’s remaining two years of his deal.
Hunter is a 6’7’’ forward who can shoot and defend out on the wing. The 28-year-old is averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 26 minutes. He was the 4th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
We got a serviceable wing player…two years too late, but hey, we got a wing.
Best of luck to you, Keon. It was fun watching you grow as a player in Sacramento. Enjoy winning and the playoffs.
I’ll reserve judgment (anxiously) until the 5th in the hopes that this is part of a larger move like Rob has mentioned. Not holding out much hope, though, because I tend to agree with others that this smells of another Vivek move thinking we’re not tanking, just in a gap year and reloading. Fuck. At least the Pacers won tonight…
You really don’t need to reserve judgement. Reserving judgement is for people who deserve the benefit of the doubt, which nobody in this franchise is owed.
Agreed. Just doing it for my own sanity at this point.
Pretty much I how feel. We’ll see what happens by the 5th before judging this trade fully, but I have no confidence in this shitshow franchise.
I’m just happy we got a red, “breaking news” banner at the top of the screen. Keep ‘em coming Scotty P.
Damn right, keep ’em coming. Our basketball sanity depends on it.
Giving up Keon in order to get an older, more expensive player with a less clearly defined role and paying a second rounder for the privilege of doing so. Not to mention the formal admission of what a catastrophic failure Perry’s #1 free agent signing was this offseason. A dogshit, directionless franchise becomes even more so.
Goodbye, Keon. May you flourish in Cleveland like we all know you will. If there is a silver lining of this trade, its that he gets a new lease on his NBA career which he so greatly deserves. Nobody deserves to spend their time on this team. I’m beginning to think I won’t either.
Eat shit, Vivek.
Lateral, if not backwards, move. At least Perry had to admit that all his
stupid and ridiculoushard preseason maneuvering to get “the starting point guard we really need” didn’t pan out.Underrated aspect – we moved JV for Saric in order to clear cap space. Now that cap space is gone – and so is Keon, JV, and a second rounder!
And 1 – this is like Dennis’, what, 40th different NBA team? WTF was Perry thinking pursuing him so doggedly and giving up so much for him in the preseason?
When Russ – the obviously superior player that we ended up signing anyway – was available for the vet minimum.
If with “obviously superior” you mean “less shitty”, I agree.
I think those are indeed synonymous. Russ isn’t elevating this squad, but he’s a consummate professional, he plays hard and is fun to watch. There are a lot of things to hate about this season. Russ isn’t one of ’em.
Disagree.
He plays hard on offense but not always very smart and can be a a black hole.
He carefully picks his moments to be a consummate pro on defense. He is often just a bystander.
I don’t hate Russ. I actually like him as a person. I even don’t hate him as a player at a minimum contract. I hate that he is playing an absurd amount of minutes and takes up a disproportionate amount of shot attempts, but that is hate directed towards the GM and coach, not at Russ.
Agree. Getting Russ was sheer stupidity. There’s a reason no other teams picked him up.
Very much agree Rik. I think the love Russ has for the game, for staying in shape, for playing with abandon, is admirable and likable and fun and hilarious, but especially so when he is on an opponents roster.
I would much rather see Carter get some run, continue to see Nique have the ball in his hands, and I am someone who hopes Monk stays with the team and would like to see him play more. The connection he has with the fans, the emotional leadership he brings, he can take big shots and let the young guys grow without forcing them into situations they are not ready for, and he has shown he can really help bigs get buckets in the pick and roll, which we have two young bigs with promise of adequacy.
Think about it… this trade is all 3 of Perry’s mistakes in the offseason traded out in one move. AND it cost him a second round pick.
Damn dude, this is a really bad sign for Kings fans. The hope for a competent rebuild is looking hopeless at the moment. I’m trying really hard to stay positive, only because it seems inevitable something else is coming soon. No point in getting angry yet. Is there a way I could be happy a few days from now? The magic 8 ball says…
The magic 8 ball says: Sorry but we’re screwed.
Because we’re one DeAndre Hunter away from taking on the SGAs, Jokics and Wembys of the world, obviously!!!
I get a “well I had to do something so people won’t say I don’t do anything” type of vibe emanating from Perry.
Seriously, Perry just desperately trying to look competent-ish these days. Dude is cooked but if he can unintentional tank us that would be fine with me. Sell-the-team chants work…or maybe draft-top-three chants also
Because of Kuminga
I will refrain from getting pissed off about this trade. Three players going out for one player coming in clearly signals that there is more coming.
All that said, this trade makes no sense for the kings as things stand now. They sent out a 2nd round pick to shed Saric’s contract which is expiring at the end of the season. That is absolutely horrible at face value. It’s in the realm of the dumbest trade that has ever happened. Ellis, your hottest commodity (that at least 15 teams were trying to acquire) left in a trade that brought back no future draft capital and a 28 year old when you said you want to get younger and start a rebuild. The whole thing makes no sense.
One coming in, but I believe Cardwell is signing a big-boy contract also. So that fills a spot.
So Chicago gets an expiring Saric and a second round pick for simply being there? WTF?
I’m at a loss for this trade. The Kings took on salary for next year, gave up a wanted asset in Keon, AND gave up a 2nd round pick? There has to be more down the pike, right? RIGHT?
LOL, the Kings have no PG on the roster next year aside from Carter and now have no cap space. What’s you move now, Perry?
So by CBA rules. the Bulls have to be giving up something. So what is it?
My God, the Bulls are just sending out a 2-way player to eat the remaining money on Saric’s contract and get 2 seconds for it.
What the fuck do the Bulls have on Vivek?
Sanity?
Competence?
I got nothing..
Us Kings fans just have to have patience. After all, it hasn’t even been two decades of losing yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day. We’re all just too dumb and shortsighted to see how losing every single trade fits into Perry’s genius long term vision.
In fairness to us, so is Perry.
So true. But Perry is certain about one thing – he’s definitely a genius visionary.
It’s the 7th pillar.
I believe it was two 2nd round picks lol…this trade would of made sense THREE years ago when they needed more WINGS after losing to the Warriors in round 1 of the playoffs. Now??? Now just eats up time from Cam Boozer or AJ Dybansta. If the Kings are lucky enough to obtain a top 3 spot in the draft lottery. I’m so close to being done with this franchise….and I’ve never felt that way, about any team I root for. This franchise is run so poorly it’s just laughable. They have 5 days to change my mind. 5!!!! And then I’m out…disowning them for good. Sorry for my rant. Thank you for giving me the space to do so.
Not to pour salt on your wound my friend, but Hunter is having the worst year of his career.
The Kings just gave up an asset and and draft capital to pay him $23M next year.
The Kings only had Dennis at $15m for next year as Saric and Keon were expiring.
Failing Useless Crappy Kings
So he’ll help drive the tank!
I would think so. If he’s having the worst year of his career, he’ll be even worster in Basketball Hell.
Why?
All I’ve go is the Kings have opened up two roster spots. Could there be more coming?
If all they do is give Cardwell a spot and roll with 14 for the rest of the season, then this is a bullshit trade.
They basically sold a 2nd rounder for $2M. Daric was expiring and has already had the majority of his $5M contract paid. Simply piss poor asset management by Perry since he’s joined.
Don’t disrespect the Saric Era lol
McBuckets for CP3!
RJ Barrett and Poeltl for Sabonis and a 1st. Book it.
Fly away little bird, be free.
This makes me miss the trade deadline’s previous inactivity.
Just a little wrinkle in this…
The Kings now stand at 13 rostered players. They must get to 14 in the coming days. They now are $1.7M under the tax after taking on salary to acquire Hunter.
My guess is they give Cardwell the cheapest of all deals to stay below the tax and get to 14 rostered players.
But the way it currently stands, I believe we’re now a taxpayer for next season.
According to Spotrac, the Kings are currently $1.6M below the tax with 9 rostered player for next season. DDR does have his non-guarantee, but the Kings would need to add 9 more players and one of this is going to have a high lottery rookie scale.
An update to this: I’ve seen a few reports that the Kings intend to sign Cardwell to a standard deal, but they do have 2 weeks in which they can carry only 13 rostered players. My hope is they leave the two roster open through the deadline in case more happens. If however, they convert Dylan between now and the deadline, I’ll be disappointed.
if there is a god, he or she clearly hates Sacramento. This makes no sense, ZERO. So now what? Hunter is coveted by another team and offering up a young player or two and an expiring contract? Then this makes sense.
When you think there must be an upcoming secondary move you know it’s a shit deal. And this is Suckramento, there is no 3D chess move coming up later. This front office doesn’t have the ability to see 2-3 years down the road, they are only concerned about next week.
The rest of the league plays chess while the Kangz front office plays checkers. SMH
If it’s any consolation, the Cavs gave up Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, 3 second round picks and two pick swaps for Hunter just one year ago.
Maybe the universe is just self correcting?
If so, when does it self correct for the Kings?
Wonder if Perry will hold a press conference to introduce his newest
failureprize acquisition.Sooo…PG duties now are on RW and…Carter who has barely played? Tank you Scott. The Tank goes full speed!
Nope, likely Clifford. Perry is adamant that he can run an offense. Carter is dead cap space at this point. He won’t see any additional time.
I hope this is true. Westbrook on this team makes no sense for the Kings or himself. He barely made sense when the season started. Now with the team in last place it makes ZERO sense. They should release him so he can sign on with a meaningful team like the T wolves, Rockets, Pistons, Lakers, Warriors, 76ers, Magic or Knicks. Clifford should be our starting PG for the rest of the season getting at least 35 minutes a night at that position. If it doesn’t work you still provided an amazing development opportunity to a player you see as a long term piece. Monk can back him up. Chance this happens with this lack of managerial leadership = negative 64%
Any team taking on Russ knows nothing about winning basketball, why do you think he wasn’t signed days before season? Now a contender wants him? Nah brah. A few Russ lovers on here but I can’t stand the way he plays and the fact that we got him, he should be in Europe or retired.
I’d much rather see Nique running point for the rest of the year. Even if Nique’s long-term position is off-ball, getting more opportunities to be a play-creator with the chance to fail is great thing for him and his overall development.
To add-on, I’d buyout Westbrook and play Stevens and Carter as backup PGs.
Scott Perry was a failure in NY, and is currently carrying on that pathway here. Using one of your few assets to salary dump a guy you signed, and the player you acquired in order to create the space you signed that guy into. So we basically traded JV, Keon, and a 2nd for the privilege of adding a $25m a year bench wing that has limited defense and a bad outside shot.
Yeah but Perry had six pillars and great connections with agents, right?
RIGHT?
Turns out those ‘connections’ are actually a bad thing. Because other GMs know him and know they can fleece him.
Good summation.
Perry, You traded the wrong shooting guard!
You’re digging in the wrong place!
One thing not discussed here:
The Cavs were over the tax and with this deal we help them save approx. $ 50 million in taxes and somehow we are not just exchanging bad contracts (Hunter vs Schroder), but also sending them an asset (Keon) and we get zero picks back?
What kind of motivatiuonal quote will cover that?
Perfect.
Monday morning motivational quote: “When the past starts tapping you on the shoulder,remember: a well‑placed detour can keep you moving forward. Or at least in a direction no-one can detect.”
I think its closer to $70M in tax for next season, but yeah, point taken. It’s a completely bogus trade unless there is more down the pike.
We used Keon & a 2nd rounder to get out of a PERRY trade & a PERRY FA signing. Fucking brilliant, Scott. Which pillar does that represent?
The Pillar of Doom?
I like Hunter, but I guess he should start to search his house in San Francisco. 24mil contract for a 3nD wing, smells like the trade chip we were lacking..
One can only hope you are correct. Kuminga > Hunter
Is he?
Maybe not today, but if the deal was Ellis, Schroder, 2nd for Kuminga, I wouldn’t grouse, because at least you’ve made an upside bet on a younger player.
What I find funny about that is the rumor was the Kings refused to include Keon in the Dubs request in a trade for Kuminga back before the season started.
I disagree. Kuminga can’t shoot, doesn’t defend well. It doesn’t play well with others. There is no upside there. There’s a reason nobody wants to trade for him basically. There’s a reason the Warriors don’t want him. At least DeAndre Hunter does play defense and can’t shoot and play well with others.
This goes back to whenever the deadline was to extend Keon and SP chose not to.
Dennis should have never been signed.
Saric should never have been traded for JV.
And now you’re left with another mediocre, overpaid player for another year in Hunter.
Perry is making mistake after mistake and it’s not surprising one bit.
I’m numb to the ineptness. These dumb moves don’t even bother me as they are expected.
Keon’s extension start date is right after the deadline. They could extend him between then and the end of the season. Now, the Cavs will have that opportunity.
Scott Perry is exactly who we thought he was when he was hired with no GM search. A vision less turd.
But he has 6 pillars to live by.
I gotta say. I am extremely whelmed
Now that Perry’s undone what he did,
We see no “pro quo” to his “quid”.
With him at the helm,
Have to think “underwhelm”,
As he’s doing just as Vivek bid!
A Jman reply poem? Easily the highlight of this season for me
I just don’t understand.
Why not waive Saric instead of giving away an early 2nd rounder?
Why take on salary (Schröder is owed $15 next season, Hunter $25M) from a desperate 2nd Apron team and have them win the (supposed) Keon Ellis sweepstakes and get NO draft compensation? Better off just letting Keon walk.
Who is Schröder’s travel agent? Who signed the guy who has worn out his welcome with 10 teams to 3 seasons?
If the plan is to create a big salary void after next season (DeRozan, Lavine, Hunter all expire) who do they think they will sign with the freed up $97M? Zach Randolph is retired. George Hill is retired.
In other words- We’ve seen this strategy before.
When Sabonis gets traded, will he call is next vintage Ones and Dones?
It’s amazing that the ineptness of this franchise spans multiple GMs, but there’s only one constant, and we know who that is. Perhaps that person’s daughter has a thing for Hunter, and so daddy had to procure the asset, who knows.
I’ve thought that this could be the reason for Vivek’s Zach LaVine fixation
The moves are Vivek’s fixation on offense only players.
I don’t fully understand the Bulls involvement either. The Kings could have simply shipped Dennis and Keon over to the Cavs and cut Saric to make space for Hunter. Why give the Bulls a pick to eat Saric?
Can someone explain that? Is it something in the CBA that required them to do that?
If they didn’t move Saric, they would have been in the luxury tax, which was some sort of apron violation (Bobby Mark’s video below explains that). Cutting Saric, they would have had to buyout the remaining $2.4m he was owed this year. Penny pinching stuff by the Kings.
Yeah, I just watched the video. I had thought the Kings could go over the tax, but not into the apron via trade, if it fell within a certain dollar amount. I assumed they could then move Saric at a later date if need be to get below the tax line, which isn’t assessed until the end of the season. It sounds like the Kings could NOT temporarily go above the tax do to the CBA.
Because the Bulls got a second from the Cavs. It makes sense to me if what I think might be coming down the line. The Warriors were really interested in Hunter to provide them with the wing they needed. I might be wrong but I can see a Hunter Kuminga trade coming. You get Kuminga for basically Schroder Ellis and a second. Makes sense to me. We will see. Old saying: Patience jackass patience.
You can still buy out Eubanks and McDermont. Now a Sabonis trade to the Raptors for 3 players makes sense. Also a Monk trade might also have needed roster spots. Patience jackass patience for 5 more days.
I don’t think the Kings can trade Hunter for at least 60 days (after the deadline)…I also don’t know if you can still bring in another team into the trade like in the off-season.
I don’t understand why anyone would want Kuminga over Hunter. Is it possible that Hunter, Keegan and Clifford are good three and D long wings? And that if you continue to stink, you can get a top for picking that might actually get you somewhere?
I think the idea is that Kuminga is much younger and still has potential to grow whereas Hunter is who is he now, a decent role-player who has been overpaid because he has size at the wing position and flashed two-way ability while on ATL.
I envision Kuminga’s ceiling as someone like Julius Randle – whose driving game on offense is good enough to make up for his lack of concentration on defense.Without DDR or a PG, getting any offense from this squad would be difficult, so Kuminga’s self-creation skills make some sense in SAC.
I also don’t have much belief in Kuminga at this point but still I don’t understand GSW’s refusal to play him…but then I think of how SAC treated Ellis and I start to doubt the “Kuminga just isn’t any good” narrative because I know for a fact that Ellis is good but SAC refused to play him too.
The draft pick going out bothers me the most (if you don’t count Perry using multiple assets to correct a problem he created)!
Vivek is so broke they are selling 2nd rounders at a discount. We should be buying 2nd rounders to package to move up to a late 1st, but no…Vivek needs cash so we sell off draft assets.
Nothing about this trade makes logical sense for the future of this franchise. The only hope for this team is the next 24 hours. Make one more move before today’s game to help promote the accidental tank.
Public Service Announcement
Pay particular attention to the Sacramento sports media members who are currently reminding us this is all part of Perry’s plan.
check this out from Bobby Marks
Good find UTQ. I have been quiet this season, it has the bleakness that the early 90’s doused us in without any of the fun. Hope you are well!
So they traded for a 3 and D wing the year he forgot how to shoot? I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.
I read a post on twitter last night where advance stats showed that Hunter was really quite bad at D too. Can’t find it, now.
I think the argument can be made that Keon is definitely a better defender than Hunter and Dennis might be as well. Point being, this move alone does not improve the defense whatsoever.
As a Kings fan, it’s hard to be disappointed by this deal. I live in a reality where I expect them to make bad moves, so this trade meets my expectations.
The only winner in this trade is Keon…..who absolutely deserves it. He will join DeAaron, Harrison, Tyrese, Jonas, Davion, Neemias…and several others (cant forget Huerter) who are all on contenders, contributing, and thriving for the most part….oh and also…what about fired coach Mike Brown who just won the NBA Cup. (not to forget Mike Malone who won an NBA Title)…even Buddy Hield is on a playoff contender!!! (and i know im missing a bunch of other notable mentions). And Trey Lyles and Alex Len? oh yeah, they went to Spain(which is probably awesome) and are on Real Madrid which is the best team in Liga ACB. So its not a far fetched reach to say “its never been the players or the coaches as to why this team is a steaming dumpster fire full of donkey excrement…..its SOLELY and 100% lies at the feet of the guy sitting at half court and taking stupid IG pics with everyone where he points at them”
But back to original point…that list is all former Kings players or coaches who are in MARKEDLY better circumstances after being traded, let go, or fired.
So Keon….enjoy what playing on a decent NBA team is gonna be like. You have escaped basketball purgatory…..and you deserve it!
This team is the most toxic franchise in the league. I begin to form opinions on this trade, but is it even worth it? This team is walking back poor decisions it made less than a year ago, while using a player they have stupidly under evaluated in Keon Ellis. And sadly I think this is all setting up another deal that will be im sure equally idiotic.
Doug Christie is a joke of a coach, Scott Perry a joke of a GM and Vivek a joke of an owner. The sell the team chants have to come each game.
If this is all that really happen by the deadline, I really hope some local media puts the coals to Perry. Walking back poor decisions is an understatement for a new GM. He had to give up assets in order to overpay for the christened starting PG in Dennis, and is now giving up more assets, to not only undo that signing, but acquire a more expensive wing who comes off the bench. The dude is currently the George Costanza of GMs
It doesn’t even make sense if you imagine the offseason moves were Scott and Vivek agreeing that we’ll do one last push over the summer with the core we had, but if that doesn’t work then Scott can blow it up and start a rebuild.
Giving up assets and adding salary is the opposite of what we should be doing.
Maybe there is some rationale in there that Perry values Hunter and envisions him in that Harrison Barnes role with Keegan and Sabonis? I don’t know…it’s all I got.
The problem still remains that this team has DDR ahead of Hunter and the they are currently heading into the offseason with no cap space or a PG.
No PG? No worries, we’ll be drafting the next Curry this year!!!
Sell the team!
Blow it up!
Don’t hold you breath, Adam. I just stopped listening after less than 10 minutes of Deuce and Mo, with Mo already covering everything with fig leaves.
Congrats Keon, you are free! Good luck to you.
I hope Keon goes off for like 30 points and 5 blocks and steals when Cleveland plays the Kangz ina few days. That would be some poetic justice.
OT: I guess everyone was just waiting for the Keon shoe to drop.
Oh look, a team gave up an asset and got picks back. It CAN happen!
Unless they are going to package Hunter for another deal, this is an F.
All the supposed teams that had interest in Keon. You don’t even get Back a young prospect.
LOL! So we gave up the best ssset in the deal, took on money AND gave up a pick. Bravo. I knew whatever they did would be idiotic and nonsensical but this is impressive even for them. Scott Perry being competent was always a massive reach to me and now we’re seeing he’s just a shameless yes man like all the rest (with the possible exception of Monte for one year).
Sell the team!!!
Every year it gets harder and harder to be a fan of this franchise. Glad Keon gets to experience a good franchise and will see how he does going forward. Haven’t been this disinterested in the team since the Westphal years. Small part of me now wishes that they hadn’t made the playoffs a couple seasons ago so that Vivek would own the record for non playoff seasons.
I wanted to make what I hope are quick points:
A comparison:
Pts/Reb/Ast/Stocks per 100:
Hunter: 23.7pts, 6.6reb, 2.6asts, 1.5 stl/blks
Keegan: 19.7pts, 8.3reb, 2.1asts, 2.5 stl/blocks
Shooting % (FG, 3pt, FT):
Hunter: 44.8% fg, 36.5% 3pt, 82.5% FT
Keegan: 44.9% fg, 36.6% 3pt, 81.0% FT
Advanced:
Reb%:
Hunter: 7.5
Keegan: 14.3
Ast%:
Hunter 7.6
Keegan 6.0
Steals/Blocks%:
Hunter 1.9
Keegan 3.5
Career Def Win Shares per season:
Hunter: 1.3
Keegan: 2.2
Career Win Shares per season:
Hunter: 3.0
Keegan: 4.6
Career Value over Replacement:
Hunter: -0.4
Keegan: +1.6
This trade only undoes what Perry did in the offseason. Both horrible mistakes. But lord of the pillars decides to bring back a negative net value that costs more than he sent out. Now that folks is some 4 dimensional chess that only Scott can do.
Every successful rebuilding tanking team in the league loves to trade out assets to get less valuable more expensive ones in return.
Also horrific is the now somewhat more real rumor that they were trying to flip any vets to get Jrue Holiday.
This is going to be amazing to watch. The next 18 months are going to go so well.
the only satisfaction i get is that i’d much rather anybody have Vivek’s money than Vivek. Who would I rather have $48M in their pockets – Zach or Vivek? Yes…I’m happy for Zach. I mean, I’d rather have good players but if we can’t have that, then why not be as close to the tax as we can get and the payroll can bleed Vivek as much as possible. Maybe he’ll eventually buckle and sell.
I want to thank Dennis Schroder for being competitive, tough, team-oriented, accountable, disciplined, and professional during his time in Sacramento…
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