The Cavaliers acquired forward De’Andre Hunter in their only in-season trade in 2024/25, but Hunter’s disappointing performance so far in ’25/26 may necessitate another in-season move a year later, writes Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscription required).
Sources tell Fedor that the Cavaliers haven’t engaged in any meaningful trade talks with teams inquiring on their players so far, including one club that made an offer for Hunter. Cleveland still believes in its current group despite an underwhelming 22-19 first half and wants to see what it looks like at full strength, if possible, Fedor adds.
However, with Max Strus expected to remain sidelined for at least a few more weeks, Dean Wade dealing with a nagging knee issue – he recently underwent a precautionary MRI that came back clean, per Fedor – and Hunter struggling to make an impact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Cavs explore their options on the trade market before the deadline.
After Hunter scored a season-low two points and committed three turnovers in 18 minutes of action in Monday’s home loss to Utah, head coach Kenny Atkinson acknowledged the forward’s struggles while expressing a belief that he can still turn things around.
“It’s not clicking. I think it’s a prolonged batting slump. It happens in every sport,” Atkinson said. “Trying to support him. Trying to get him some touches. Part of my job is to help him. He’ll snap out of it. He’s too good of a player to be playing like this. He’ll turn it around. We need him.”
Here are a few more trade-related notes and rumors from around the NBA:
- Noting that Nets general manager Sean Marks typically exercises patience on the trade market and doesn’t settle for deals that fall shy of his asking price, Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required) writes that there’s a real chance Michael Porter Jr. remains with the team through the trade deadline. One assistant GM told Lewis that he wouldn’t be surprised if Brooklyn hangs onto Porter and then sits him frequently after the trade deadline in an effort to tank for a high draft pick.
- Kelly Iko of Yahoo Sports and Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports both check in on the Ja Morant situation, with Iko explaining why the Grizzlies appear prepared to move forward without the star point guard and O’Connor presenting some hypothetical trade scenarios involving the 26-year-old. Echoing recent reporting from ESPN, Iko says executives around the NBA are wondering if Memphis will also become open to dealing Jaren Jackson Jr., though the Grizzlies have insisted for now that’s not an option they’re considering.
- Dan Woike of The Athletic suggests six trade ideas for the Lakers, including potential deals that send Andrew Wiggins, Herbert Jones, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, or Justin Champagnie to Los Angeles. However, he also plays devil’s advocate by outlining reasons why his suggestions might not work, such as the Pelicans’ lack of interest in moving Jones and the Lakers’ reluctance to take on multiyear salary for a player like KCP.
- Sam Vecenie of The Athletic lays out a few trades he’d like to see happen, including one sending Bulls guard Coby White into the Pistons‘ trade exception for draft assets, a three-team deal sending Michael Porter Jr. to the Warriors and Jonathan Kuminga to the Kings, and a Daniel Gafford/Bennedict Mathurin swap between the Pacers and Mavericks.
Lakers’ sorry defense was at full display last night. Franchise record for 3PT% allowed (65.4%) while defending 25 or more threes shot in a game.
RussWest 22 points, 4-8 from three point range.
Monk, who also played for the Lakers recently, as Russ, and who was banished to DNP-CD by Christie, and dangled around as trade bait, scored 18 points in the second quarter, and finished with 26 in 6-8 3P.
It’s not that it was only the three point shooting the way Sac got offensive solutions against the Lakers, as DeRozan scored 32 with over 70% from the field (14-19) with NO threes.
It’s time to acknowledge the writing on the wall: this perimeter defense with Doncic, Lebron and Reaves (out bc of injury) won’t get it done.
JJ needs to get tough with Lebron which so far he refuses to do. They played much better with reeves and Luka. Lebron is gone at the end of the year. They could trade for defense but they lack assets to trade. wait until off season and get rid of LeBrons contract and you will have money to bring in players that fit the team.
The OneWay Wonder ……. been saying since last yr. Luka and Reaves doesn’t work defensively. Never will.
They should use Reaves to upgrade at another position. Bron is gone after this year. I would sign Grimes. He’s a FA and a 2way player.
So do you put some of the blame on JJ for allowing Lebron run the team? JJ can coach but he has too many of his favorites.
All coaches have to deal with star players. Don’t know Lakers well enough to judge JJ. I know their D is not good. And Lukas D has never been good.
link to yardbarker.com
Theit 2 best defensive players have no offensive game. When they add knecht out there teh defense is worse. He drop in the draft because he can’t play defense. Ayton can block shots but has slow foot work. Its like they built a team only on offense.
Ayton was a great upside talent in draft. He looked like a future 2way star. Don’t know what happened.
Ayton happened to Ayton
He’s a lazy bum
“ it’s like they built the team on offense “
They haven’t had time to build this team post Luka trade so that’s a very unfair assessment
They tryed to swing to a more defensive minded team with the little maneuvers they had in swapping Dfs for Ayton and smart it just hasn’t worked.
Im not against calling out Lakers front office but in reality there wasn’t much they could have done in the short amount of time to get this right . Team building takes years not months , something that has been lost upon 2k nation since the beginning of time
When they got Luka team was built more for Bron.
They are changing it up. But we won’t see a real direction. Till Bron leaves. They have plenty of cap space and a big chip in Reaves imo. Not a Luka guy. But you can build a team around him.
Serious question for Cap N Crunch and Cap & Crunch: What’s the deal here? Are we talking about the most obvious burner account ever, or a very dedicated troll that turned into a serious commenter but kept the name, or two people independently coming up with a name that uses a salary cap pun and both refusing to change it? We all deserve some answers
Less fun answer Fig Jam
A millennial whoes bad with tech
The No avatar cap is from my phone, with avatar is my home computer !
** Took me years just to find my apple password and change my phones name from “Human Rain Delay” (which i used primarily on MLB RUmors a decade ago to Cap to even link them up as the same name (sigh)
Well, it’s never too late to turn one of them into an alternate, slightly more aggressive commenting personality. Maybe same avatar but with a handlebar moustache?
Also, props on coming up with an on-theme name which is easily shortened into cool nicknames. Henceforth I’m going with “Cap” when I agree and “Crunch” when I don’t
Never noticed till now ones an & and ones a N ha
Never trust anyone past 30 with Tech
They’ll have to wait in line. Grimes is likely going to Bklyn.
Imo he’s a good fit with Luka. He needsa D guy next to him. Grimes can do that and put up 18-20 a gm. Imo Nets will continue with the youth and picks. Nice guards in the lottery….
Watch the games
Lakers and Rockets need huge trades
This year’s playoffs, 5-8 seeds will be knocked out in the first round
When will people realize Rui Hachimura has never played defense in his life? How does he STILL escape criticism, after being with the Lakers for like 3+ years at this point?
He is a situational scoring smallball 5 off the bench in certain lineups against certain matchups…he certainly isnt a starting 4 in a lineup already lacking defense, and spacing, although he has improved his shooting, so I wont necessarily blame spacing as much as the obvious defense issue
Hachimura and Ayton at the 4-5 is hilarious on defense
Not going to debate you on the Rui is not a defensive player. He is another guy who is tall and can block but slow feet. Just like Gobert is not a defnsive wiz anymore unless they count block shots.
It’s never been about blocked shots with Gobert. Rudy averages 1.7 blocks per game and 2.1 for his career. He’s only led the league in blocks once. His defensive reputation comes from how much he alters the opposing team’s offensive scheme.
Opposing players have low field-goal percentages when they drive to the basket with him protecting the rim precisely because he doesn’t chase blocks. He stays in position so that if they do challenge him they don’t get a clean look. Then they either have to settle for a midrange jumper or pass it back out and start over.
Whoes not acknowledging it is the real Question ?
I haven’t heard a serious person say the Lakers are a threat this year, in fact most of us with sharper pencils said this opening night
Probably gotta load those pitchforks back in the shed here, faux outrage
Outrage? It was more directed to the Lakers’ organization and front office… No one is blaming nobody over here… Chill buddy
Was for the whole thread Julian, not your Og post
You say the word Lakers around here you attract a type, no different today
Alright Cap&Crunch, no problem
I blame it mostly on national media who uses lakers for clicks
Add on the laker hatred amongst fans everywhere and you get here ( see the replies to your post )
Your correct tho they are not a serious team this year nor will be post deadline
I agree Cap that media would come up with anything with the Lakers to get views. And even without Skip Bayless in mass channels lol. Lakers always the calling card for clicks and media.
Is Lebron signing with the Clippers an impossible idea? I don’t see the fit with the Cavs right now. I would like Dallas, but that may not be as clear rn
I have no read on LBJ’s future
He’s done a great job of keeping it tight
Most probable I think would be Lakers or retirement
Other possible places include GSW or Cle next year on a BIG BIG discount . I think if he was to take that discount he should put an eye on Denver as well as that be really fun
I don’t see Clippers viable but who knows really, possibly with Jr and a wink wink from Stevie to take Jr Jr in 2027 draft as collateral …maybe but feel its a stretch
LBJ is gone. 41 yrs old and no contract. This is Lukas team now …..
Dude don’t be surprised if Bron asks for a buyout at TD. And tries to go to a contender. Probably Cavs lol.
He would have my best wishes and Id continue to watch him as a Cav if so
Probably be better for the league as well as Cavs are real contenders with him and we are not
Give it a 2% chance , with Rich Paul by your side anything is possible
You agree this is his last yr ?? Then you know ge doesn’t want to go out in play in game.
No clue if this is his last year .
I lean No today tho
Marks needs to trade him this season not wait until the off season when teams will have more options and his value is at its highest. He wants 2 1st round picks plus young players. That is not going to happen for a player that is not a defensive big man.
Nets don’t need to trade him.. there’s certainly no pressure to do so.
Grizz need to trade JJJ while he still have big value around league. His PO performance is underwhelming even for rotational player.
Carrier fg% in PO under 40%, last year 37.9%
16pt 5rbd avg last season PO
Right. They’ve had plenty of opportunities to see JJJ be the guy for years with Morant’s injury history and he’s not it. He’s a 3rd option at best to me with his defensive abilities being more impactful without the burden of being the #1-2 scorer.
IMO
Teams should target the following players – trade value all time low (like Trae)
AD
Morant
LaVine
Kuminga
Coby White
Players you should not target – overprice
Herb Jones 2 Firsts
Trey Murphy 3 Firsts
MPJ (high value Firsts)
Sabonis (8high value Firsts)
Jaren Jackson Jr (high value Firsts)
So they should target players with big contract like LaVine?
Idk trey Murphy is having a great szn….