The Cleveland Cavaliers have attracted “a fair amount” of trade inquiries for forward DeAndre Hunter, but team officials are reluctant to move the 28-year-old unless they recover at least the package they spent to get him last year—Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two pick swaps—according to reporting from Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line.
Cleveland is the league’s only club operating above the second tax apron, a status that limits trade flexibility. Hunter’s production—he is shooting 30.6% from three-point range—and an injury history have given some suitors pause, Fischer adds. Teams are also wary of the $24.9 million guaranteed to him in 2026-27.
The Milwaukee Bucks explored a Hunter deal earlier in the season, Siegel notes, centering discussions on Kyle Kuzma. The Cavaliers were not interested, and NBA apron rules would have prevented Milwaukee from sending Kuzma’s larger salary for Hunter without additional matching mechanisms, which second-apron teams cannot use.
LeBron scenario
Multiple team and league sources told ESPN’s Dave McMenamin that the Cavaliers would welcome LeBron James for a third stint if he chooses to leave the Los Angeles Lakers when his contract expires this summer. Cleveland already has $227 million in guaranteed salaries committed for 2026-27, meaning James would likely need to accept a substantial pay cut unless the roster undergoes major changes.
Tyson eyes bigger milestones
Second-year guard Jaylon Tyson, recently selected to the Rising Stars roster, said he hopes his leap in production earns consideration for Most Improved Player and eventually an All-Star nod. “If we were winning more games right now, I would be in that (MIP) conversation,” Tyson told Cleveland.com, pointing to his statistical jump from his limited rookie season.
Tomlin approaches two-way limit
Forward NaeQwan Tomlin—a former Rucker Park standout who never played high-school basketball—has appeared in 44 NBA games on a two-way contract, Marc J. Spears of Andscape reports. Tomlin is six games shy of the 50-game threshold; to keep him active after the trade deadline, Cleveland would need to convert his deal to a standard NBA contract.
Source: Hoops Rumors
