The Cleveland Cavaliers have upped the ante ahead of the NBA's trade deadline, securing a deal with the Atlanta Hawks to acquire De'Andre Hunter, as reported by multiple sources, including The Beacon Journal and cleveland.com. The deal sends Caris LeVert and Georges Niang to the Hawks, three second-round picks, and two swaps.
De'Andre Hunter, the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, is currently averaging 19 points and 3.9 rebounds this season. According to Cleveland19, the Cavs, at 41-10 this season, didn't approach the trade deadline as a team in desperation however, they eyed potential roster upgrades that would mesh well both on the court and within the organization's culture. Hunter fits this profile while allowing the Cavs to stay under the luxury tax, a noteworthy achievement in today's financially intricate NBA.
President of basketball operations for the Cavs, Koby Altman, lauded the acquisition, stating, "The acquisition of De’Andre Hunter and the potential impact a player of this caliber can bring to Cleveland is immeasurable," in a news release covered by The Akron Beacon Journal. He stressed that the trade was beneficial for both the short and long term, and while shedding LeVert and Niang was tough, the move aligned with the Cavs' bigger picture.
For the Hawks, Caris LeVert's expiring contract presented extra allure, a $16.6 million cap hit for this season, while Hunter is in the books for $21.7 million, $23.3 million, and $24.9 million over the next three campaigns, Cleveland's not only adding a durable talent but also one locked in for a few years, thus offering the team some stability on the financial front while managing to bypass the luxury tax for another season according to cleveland.com.
With this strategic move, the Cavaliers shore up their already formidable lineup. Hunter, boasting a 39.3% average from behind the arc, is expected to bring additional offensive spacing and versatile defense to the roster. There's no denying the Cavs are gearing up for a solid playoff run, an assertion underscored by their aggressive approach to filling gaps before the trade deadline passed, and they're not done yet – the team has its eyes on the buyout market for other possible additions.
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