The Sacramento Kings have been eyeing Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter in a potential deal for Dennis Schroeder, Keon Ellis and Dario Saric, according to a report from HoopsHype.
“Cleveland and Sacramento have discussed a framework that would send Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter to the Kings for Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroeder, and Dario Saric, league sources told HoopsHype. A third team could be looped in to take on Saric, and second-round draft pick compensation also could be added to the framework, sources said.”
The report states that a separate deal had been discussed for Hunter, but included Ellis and Malik Monk. The Cavs aren’t interested in that deal, however, because of Monk’s contract.
“Another trade variation discussed included Malik Monk and Ellis going to Cleveland for Hunter, but the Cavaliers were concerned about Monk’s $41.77 million over the next two seasons, HoopsHype has learned.”
Hunter, a 7-year veteran, is currently averaging 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 26 minutes per game. He’s only shooting 30% from three (a career-low) though and 42% from the field. In recent seasons, however, he has hovered around 40% from three. The 28-year old Hunter has played on two teams (the Cavs and Atlanta Hawks). He was drafted with the 4th overall pick in 2019.
Hunter is making $23 million this season and $24 million next season. He has had some injury issues throughout his career and modest box score production, but is a good wing defender at 6’7’’. He may never live up to being the 4th pick but has proven to be a rotational NBA player. He can shoot, but you wish his rebounding and playmaking ability was a little more than it is. But we all know how the Kings need someone other than Keegan Murray out on the wing.
Oooh. You can tell it’s legit because it has that familiar “underwhelming” vibe to it. I like that.
This and what does this do for the team’s future? He isn’t young and unless there’s a FRP involved, why would they do this? I’d take a Keon straight up for an first instead in this potential trade.
The missing piece!!!
Good idea, fans are complaining how much he makes, but if he could just stay healthy he could easily be as good as Keeg…and worth that type of contract.
I get what you’re saying, but he’s 28 & will be on an expiring next year. So if he’s good, you’re going to be paying out to keep him. He doesn’t fit the timeline, imo.
As advertised, this deal looks like using Ellis as a sweetener to take on Schroder’s contract, which Perry engineered just a few months ago. So when it comes to being whelmed, I’ll take the under, unless…
This is a deal to clear roster spots for a 3-1 Domas deal that brings the Kings multiple picks to take on (say) Quickley’s or Poetl’s contract.
One can dream……
I will add that if Hunter plays well, he become an easy moveable expiring next year. Again, not worth Ellis in a vacuum, and if Hunter does not play well, he’s roughly $9m more in dead weight next year than Schroder. Avoids Schroder’s 3rd year/buyout, though.
Wait, there is a timeline?!?!
We do we want to lose a great player like Domas for a crappy Poeltl contract? But losing Keon for a bigger, better all around player while shredding Schroder is a bad idea? Peoltl’s deal is one of the league’s worst and probably why TO is contacting Sac so much to take it, after they were proven infinitely stupid for taking Zach and his bad contract.
It’s not even so much about them wanting Sabonis, it’s more about undoing their brutal mistake and think the Kings are suckers (which they are). I would never touch Poeltl, when a guy like Cardwell seems almost as good, even if based on a small, unproven sample size.
I’m only one of a handful of Kings fans on the planet that doesn’t want a tank nor rebuild. I’m also not on the trade Domas train, still think he’s a top 3 big and arguably top 10 players in the league, when the coaching and his teammates are up to snuff. Gut it quick and rebuild around him. Re-tool fast on the fly like Gregory did with PHX. They can still have a 5-6 yr window of being a top 5 team with a title chance if they make the right moves, and pick up winning players. Schroder is gone, now just need to get off of DeRo, Zach & Russ also. Good riddance to iso-centric, non defending 32+ yr old players.
Yes. That’s exactly what I said: Let’s trade Domas for Poetl’s contract.
Yeesh.
Well that was your ending statement, the deal was done mainly with the grand purpose to move Domas and take on a bad contract for picks. I would want two or three 1sts if I was Perry, to take on Poeltl’s contract and another two or three 1sts for Domas. That would not happen, be lucky to get 2 or 3 total in reality, and that’s a negative deal/bad business in my honest opinion.
This deal is underrated, almost everyone is trashing it, but Hunter is good, a bigger, better version of Keon.
Yes, when you add the context of picks, it completely changes the statement.
Hunter fits the timeline of a mediocre, play-in at best team. He’s yet another LaVine – DDR – Monk. Yes, one of the 180 best players in the world. But the Kings took on net contract for him next season, and gave up Ellis & a 2nd rounder to do it. That, imo, is the epitome of bad business – aka just another day in Kangzland.
Holy shit, a trade happened!
Best of luck to you Keon. You finally got out of basketball hell! Lucky you!
Dennis, ummm…yeah.
According to ESPN Kings acquire Hunter for Ellis and Schroeder, Saric goes to Bulls who also acquire two 2nds. No relort on which team is giving up 2d round picks. Hope it is not the Kings. Both of their 2d’s would be high picks in round 2 in a good draft year.
Ham says its the 2029 2nd round picks, least favorable
Thank you. Ham is a good source. I could only find they were Kings 2d rounders. The two picks they still retain (for now anyway) are fairly valuable in terms of the amount of talent in this years draft. No matter how deep a draft is, potential is only potential.
A bit better playmaker, a bit worse rebounder but he sure gives similar vibes and stats as Keegan, for a 4th pick in the draft.
Giving up picks stinks and if this is about getting rid of DS contract….. but is Hunter any good? Isn’t the idea of Keegan/Clifford/Hunter a good one? Long switchable defenders who can shoot 3 some? Or is the not what we’re getting?
Two Keegan’s sounds not terrible to me
The point is that they’re both ok players, but underwhelming for 4th picks (and likely overpaid).
Underwhelming may be true. From what I saw of Hunter in Atlanta, there was enough tools and talent to be a fine rotational piece. Likely not for this team. For a real contender at next year’s deadline.
I’m not sure what this move accomplishes, gets rid of Keon for basically nothing of value in return. It gets rid of Schroder which is a slight positive. It might slightly improve the team which would be bad because the tank needs to be getting stronger. It just smells like Perry and Vivek think they can improve this team which would be a disaster. We’re right where we need to be. I really don’t need Hunter for any reason. We just need to be terrible for 3 years, not sure what he’s supposed to do.
I give it a B-/C+. You turn one of the worst contracts of the off-season in DS and then turn KE, who was never gonna get consistent minutes or another contract with this team because he contributes to winning basketball into a very solid rotational wing that could have value as an expiring deal next year. Obviously a ton of mismanagement of assets brought us to this situation, but was expecting a lot worse
Shout out to Keon! Glad you’re going somewhere that has expectations higher than the 10th seed!!
You give it a B+, really? Is that rated on the Kangz(zzzzz)scale? Because it sure isn’t that high from a normal NBA scale.
IMO, this is a shit trade. The Kings are sending out a pick and losing Keon! They reportedly turned down multiple 2nds for him. Simply awful.
Ugh, so we had to use our “prime” asset Keon to get rid of Perry acquisition Schroder, help save the Cavs more than $40 million in taxes and WE are sending out picks?!
Thanks, Scott. At least we make room at the PG position for – checks notes – more Westbrook!
Agreed here. Can’t applaud Perry for moving off the terrible Dennis contract when Perry was the one who gave it to him in the first place.
He was your big fish in free agency, and you had to ship out others and picks to move him 6 months later?
Why’d you trade the one PG you wanted who modeled your 6 pillars?
It’s worse than that. It was also Perry/Vivek who threw Valanciunas overboard for Saric to cut salary, AND it was Perry who opted not to give Keon Ellis a qualifying offer. Every one of those moves was bad in the moment and bad in hindsight. The entire deal was at least in part reversing Perry and Vivek’s screwups from less than 6 months ago.
The logjam is finally cleared!
Without that excuse, what will the coach be able to pin the rotational irregularities on?
I’ll wait for any other possible show to drop before really feeling super strongly one way or another about it. Yes, crap decisions even recent ones put the Kings in this mess. But if you already shit the bed this isn’t the worst start to cleaning it up. In a vacuum the move is OK to me.
If you made me assess the past 2-3 years of play I would say the Kings got the best player in the deal (Yes Hunter hasn’t shot well this year. Sounds like he hasn’t loved his role). I feel like there is a lot of fretting over the timeline. He just turned 28. Barnes was 30 during the Beam Team year. Its not totally unrealistic to think Hunter works out and they extend him for a few years until he reaches age 31 or so, while team and young picks develop. Similar to Barnes. If it doesn’t work, he’s also an expiring deal next trade season as well assuming Kings are bad again.
There is a 40-50% chance the Kings are getting a PG in the draft, even if they end up in Top 3 odds. Picks 5,6,7 have lots of PGs mocked and there is a reasonable chance that’s where the Kings end up unfortunately.
If they end up in that space and they roll out a Kingston Flemings, Clifford, Hunter, Keegan, Sabonis team to start next year I would at least be interested, while not expecting greatness.
Sidenote: Broke out my TKH “Welcome to Basketball Hell” shirt today. 2 separate compliments from dudes at Costco.
They say fashion is cyclical…for Kings fans it’s eternal.
One week until Keon Revenge Game. I might come out of basketball hibernation for that one.
Badge Legend