The Cleveland Cavaliers made the most underrated trade in the NBA this season when they acquired rangy forward De’Andre Hunter, and better yet, they didn’t have to break up their core to get him.
They gave up key reserves Caris LeVert and Georges Niang to land Hunter, and Hunter could very well be the final piece they need to win the NBA championship.
Starting point guard Darius Garland went on “Run it Back” and was asked about his reaction to the trade, and he said it was somewhat sad losing Niang.
“We were puzzled, actually. It was kind of like a sad day,” Garland said.
"@GeorgesNiang20 is still in the team group chat, but that'll change." – @dariusgarland22
"We took @ShamsCharania out of ours the second he left this show." – @MichelleDBeadle
"He didn't talk much." – @TeamLou23
😂😂😂
DG shares the Cavs' reaction to the trade deadline pic.twitter.com/k5Sj1RHF6C
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 13, 2025
LeVert and Niang gave Cleveland some real pop off the bench, but they now have the 3-and-D wing with length that many felt they needed in order to go all the way.
Hunter is averaging 18.8 points a game and shooting 40.0 percent from 3-point range this season, and he has done fairly well in his first two games with Cleveland.
At 6-foot-8, he has given the Cavs a tall and strong frontline that includes the 6-foot-9 Jarrett Allen and the 6-foot-11 Evan Mobley.
They have been arguably the NBA’s best offensive team this season, but now their defense seems poised to take another step forward, and Hunter gives them someone who can guard stars such as Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Mikal Bridges and other prominent wings and forwards come playoff time.
NEXT: Kenny Atkinson Gets Honest About Evan Mobley's Potential
