Cavaliers Ship De’Andre Hunter to Kings, Receive Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis in Three-Team Deal
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have agreed to trade forward De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings for guard Dennis Schroder and wing Keon Ellis, league sources told ESPN on Jan. 31.
The move is part of a three-team arrangement that also sends Kings forward Dario Saric and two future second-round picks to the Chicago Bulls, the sources said.
Cleveland Gains Backcourt Depth and Cap Relief
By flipping Hunter’s contract, the Cavaliers add an experienced point guard in Schroder and an elite perimeter defender in Ellis while trimming roughly $50 million in salary and luxury-tax payments this season. Cleveland’s tax bill drops from $164 million to about $120 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, positioning the club to slip below the league’s second tax apron next year.
Ellis, on an expiring $2.3 million deal, becomes extension-eligible on Feb. 9 for up to three years and $52 million. Even if the Cavaliers become an apron team in 2026-27, they can exceed that threshold to re-sign him.
What Sacramento Gets
Hunter, 28, arrives in Sacramento as a proven “3-and-D” option under contract for $23.3 million and $24.9 million over the next two seasons. He is averaging 14.0 points and 4.2 rebounds. The trade also frees a roster spot for the Kings to convert two-way center Dylan Cardwell—who is posting 4.7 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 19.8 minutes—to a standard NBA deal.
Bulls Add Size and Future Assets
Chicago absorbs Saric’s expiring $5.4 million contract and, to create room, will waive guard Jevon Carter, sources said. The Bulls receive Denver’s 2027 second-round pick from Cleveland and a 2029 second-rounder from Sacramento that will convey as the least favorable of Detroit, Milwaukee or New York’s picks.
Player Contracts and Numbers
Schroder, in his first season with the Kings after signing a three-year contract last summer, is averaging 12.8 points and 5.3 rebounds. His deal pays $14.1 million this season, $14.8 million next season and $15.5 million in 2028-29, with the final year partially guaranteed. He and Chicago’s Tre Jones are the only NBA players producing at least 10 points and 5 assists per game off the bench this year.
Ellis is averaging 5.6 points and is one of two players league-wide registering at least 2.0 steals and 1.0 blocks per 36 minutes, joining Detroit rookie Ausar Thompson.
Source: ESPN
