The Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have held preliminary talks about a trade that would send forward De’Andre Hunter to Los Angeles, according to reporter Chris Fedor on the “Wine and Gold Talk” podcast.
Fedor said the two clubs have “discussed a general framework” that would move Lakers forward Rui Hachimura and rookie guard Dalton Knecht to Cleveland, with a third team required to balance salaries. The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 5.
Financial hurdles on both sides
The Lakers sit roughly $900,000 below the first tax apron, limiting their flexibility to absorb additional salary. Cleveland faces its own constraints: the Cavaliers cannot combine player salaries in a deal and possess only one tradable first-round draft pick, according to Fedor.
Hunter’s season numbers
Hunter, 28, is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.2 minutes off the bench this season while shooting 42.2 percent from the field and 30.9 percent from three-point range. Both percentages trail his career marks of 44.8 percent overall and 36.5 percent from deep.
The 6-foot-8 wing is under contract for one more season at $24.9 million, a figure that could complicate the Lakers’ stated goal of preserving future cap space.
Lakers exploring wing upgrades
Los Angeles has been linked to several 3-and-D targets as it looks to reinforce its perimeter rotation. Hachimura and Knecht are seen as the most likely outgoing pieces in a potential three-team structure, and multiple reports indicate the Lakers are open to including both players.
Talks remain exploratory, and no agreement is imminent.
Source: LakersNation.com
