Few expected the Cleveland Cavaliers to make a big splash at the NBA’s trade deadline, given the fact that the team’s four best players are all young and locked into their contracts for the foreseeable future, but they did it anyway by acquiring Sixth Man of the Year candidate De’Andre Hunter from the Cleveland Cavaliers for Georges Niang, Caris LeVert, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps.
Hunter is enjoying a career year, averaging 19 points per game.
He recently broke his silence during his first Cavs media session to discuss the trade.
While speaking with the media, Hunter said he was somewhat prepared for a trade because he had heard rumors for some time.
However, he said the first two people he spoke to were his agent and Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome, who was his college teammate for two years at Virginia.
On paper, Hunter is a great fit with this roster, given the presence of two All-Star bigs in Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen and two All-Star guards in Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell.
The one area the team was lacking was on the perimeter in the form of a big, capable, versatile wing, which is exactly what Hunter is.
He’ll help ease the loss of Isaac Okoro, who is still out dealing with his shoulder injury.
Hunter is also signed through the 2026-27 season, so this is far from a rental, as the team will hope he can solidify its void on the wing for years to come.
NEXT: Koby Altman Gets Honest On How De'Andre Hunter Will Change Cavs
