Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant To Come Off Bench For Blazers

October 21st, 2025 at 4:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers‘ starting lineup when their season tips off on Wednesday vs. Minnesota will consist of Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe in the backcourt, Toumani Camara and Deni Avdija at forward, and Donovan Clingan in the middle, tweets Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report.

That means forward Jerami Grant will come off the bench for the first time since joining the Blazers in 2022 — and the first time since he was a member of the Nuggets during the 2019/20 season.

Grant, who was traded from Detroit to Portland during the 2022 offseason, has started all 164 games he has played for the team since then, averaging 18.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 34.1 minutes per game across those three seasons.

The 31-year-old is the second-highest-paid player on the roster, just behind Holiday, and remains under contract for at least two more years beyond this one, with a player option for 2027/28. However, he has been surpassed on the depth chart by Camara and Avdija, two younger players who look like long-term fixtures in Portland. Camara just signed a four-year contract extension with the team and is locked up through 2029/30, while Avdija has three guaranteed years left on his deal.

Asked about the possibility of coming off the bench at media day last month, Grant replied, “I don’t really expect that.” He later sought to clarify that he wouldn’t become disgruntled if he doesn’t end up starting, indicating that he’d be “fine” with it.

While the Blazers’ decision to move Grant out of the starting five doesn’t come as much of a surprise, given the way that Camara and Avdija have emerged, it’s still a situation worth keeping an eye on during the first half of the season. The veteran forward looks like a potential trade candidate, but he has three years and $102.6MM left on his contract and is coming off an injury-plagued season in which he was limited to 47 games, so his value on the trade market would be extremely limited right now.

Western Notes: Kuminga, Kleber, Coward, Blazers, Grant

October 2nd, 2025 at 10:44pm CST by Luke Adams

After Jonathan Kuminga took part in his first Warriors practice of training camp on Thursday – he participated in about half the team’s scrimmages, per head coach Steve Kerr (Twitter video link) – the 22-year-old forward publicly discussed his contract situation for the first time since finalizing a two-year, $46.8MM deal that includes a second-year team option.

Negotiations on that contract dragged on for the entire offseason in part because Kuminga reportedly didn’t want to simply become a trade chip after re-signing. So, now that he’s back under contract on a very tradable deal, does he feel as if the Warriors want to keep him for the long term?

“I would say so,” Kuminga said, per ESPN’s Anthony Slater. “Based on me being back here. At the end of the day, let’s see where this takes us. But my focus is this year pushing and actually helping us win. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’m happy, glad to be back.”

As for whether he wants to remain in Golden State for the long term? “I’m here now,” Kuminga said. “That’s everybody’s goal, to be somewhere for longer. You never know your future. So far that’s my goal. That’s what I want to accomplish. Being here for longer.”

Kuminga’s role has been inconsistent during his first four years in the NBA, including last spring, when he was a DNP-CD in a handful of games at the end of the season and in the postseason. He said on Thursday that he’s determined to find ways to “help us win” on both ends of the court in 2025/26 and that he intends to silence critics who believe he’s an offense-only player.

“If it’s on defense, if it’s an assignment, just go guard the best player,” Kuminga said. “Today we need you to score. Today we need you to guard certain people. That’s what I’m looking forward to and I’m open-minded to it.”

Here’s more from around the Western Conference:

Lakers big man Maxi Kleber is dealing with a quad injury, but it’s considered minor, according to head coach JJ Redick, who said on Thursday the team is being cautious with Kleber and he’ll miss a few days (Twitter link via Jovan Buha). Kleber, acquired from Dallas in February’s Luka Doncic blockbuster, broke his foot in January and didn’t make his Lakers debut until Game 5 of their first-round series vs. Minnesota, the team’s last game of the season.
Cedric Coward, the No. 11 pick in June’s draft, is earning praise from coaches and teammates alike at the Grizzlies‘ training camp at Belmont University this week, writes Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I think he’s kind of exceeded my expectations,” point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. said. “I never really saw any of his (college) highlights, but I’ve played and I’ve been around top picks. I feel like he’s been one of the better ones I’ve ever seen.” Memphis gave up a future first-round pick and two second-rounders in order to move up five spots from No. 16 to draft Coward.
After declaring at a July 22 press conference that it’s “winning time now” for the Trail Blazers, general manager Joe Cronin walked back that comment a little this week when he discussed the team’s expectations for the coming season, notes Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “Do we want to make the play-in? Yes,” Cronin said. “Do we want to make the playoffs? Yes. Do we want to win 16 playoff games? Yes. But I don’t have expectations and I won’t be disappointed if those things don’t happen as long as we’re continually growing. We’re still thinking big-picture with this roster.”
On media day on Monday, Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant answered a question about the possibility of him coming off the bench by replying, “I don’t really expect that.” On Thursday, Grant sought to clarify that he wouldn’t become disgruntled if he doesn’t end up starting. “I’m fine, man,” he said, per Highkin (Twitter link).

Blazers Notes: Lillard, Henderson, Grant, Camara, Clingan, More

September 29th, 2025 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Asked at the Trail Blazers‘ media day on Monday if there’s any scenario in which he plays this season, Damian Lillard admitted it’s hard to envision making it back from his Achilles tear before the 2026/27 campaign.

“I don’t plan on it,” Lillard said of playing in ’25/26, per Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report (Twitter link). “I feel like if this team is a one seed (without me), they probably got it. I’m trying to be as healthy as possible.”

Lillard added that the trainers and other players who have sustained Achilles injuries who have spoken to him about the recovery process have stressed patience and suggested that he shouldn’t be trying to make it back “in record time” (Twitter link via Highkin).

Although he almost certainly won’t be suiting up for the Trail Blazers this season, Lillard will still be one of the 15 players on the team’s standard roster, which head coach Chauncey Billups believes puts the longtime star point guard in a unique position when it comes to mentoring Portland’s younger players.

“He’s not a coach. He’s still a player. There’s a different level of connectivity that comes with that,” Billups said, noting that he wants Lillard to “keep a really close eye” on Shaedon Sharpe, Deni Avdija, and Scoot Henderson (Twitter link via Highkin).

Henderson, like Lillard, will be unavailable when the season begins, though his hamstring injury is only projected to keep him out for the start of the season, not all of it. Speaking on Monday to reporters, he referred to the injury as a “freak accident” and “minor setback” and said he’s still feeling positive about the season (Twitter links). Billups noted it’s a disappointing turn of events for the former No. 3 overall pick because he’d had an “incredible summer” prior to the injury (Twitter link).

Here’s more from the Blazers’ media day, via Highkin:

Billups said on Monday that there are “a lot of ways” the Trail Blazers’ starting lineup could go this fall and that the players who want starting jobs will have to earn them (Twitter link). Interestingly, when forward Jerami Grant was asked about the possibility of coming off the bench, he replied, “I don’t really expect that” (Twitter link). There had been some speculation this offseason that Grant could be asked to accept a reserve role due to the emergence of young forwards Avdija and Toumani Camara.
Speaking of Camara, he’s eligible to sign a contract extension but said on Monday that he’s leaving that up to his agent. “I’m just focused on basketball,” Camara said (Twitter link). “I’m trying to stay away from that right now. If I take care of my business on the court, everything will work itself out.”
With Deandre Ayton no longer in Portland, second-year center Donovan Clingan will be looking to play a major role. He said on Monday that he has worked on improving his conditioning and is aiming to average 30-plus minutes per night (Twitter link). Rookie big man Yang Hansen will be among the players vying for minutes in the middle, with Billups referring to the No. 16 overall pick as “right there in the mix” for minutes. “I think Hansen’s done a really good job of getting situated and understanding what we’re doing,” Billups said (Twitter link). “He’s definitely going to play.”
Big man Robert Williams, who underwent a procedure on his knee in March and has been limited to 26 games in two seasons since arriving in Portland, said he’s not sure when he’ll be cleared to play, though he and the training staff have a target date in mind (Twitter links).
Jrue Holiday and Matisse Thybulle are among the players who expressed enthusiasm on Monday about the defensive potential of the Blazers’ roster (Twitter links). “Playing games in your mind of what lineups we can put out there is pretty fun,” Thybulle said. “We have a few All-Defense-level players. I think we can put some ridiculous lineups out there.”

Trail Blazers Notes: Grant, Allen, Arena

August 4th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Dana Gauruder

With no apparent traction on a Jerami Grant trade, there’s a real chance the veteran forward will have to settle for a second-unit role with the Trail Blazers, Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report writes in his latest mailbag (subscription required). Grant would be one of the most expensive reserves in the league — he’s entering the third season of a five-year, $160MM contract that includes a player option.

Highkin notes it would be tough to justify having Deni Avdija or Toumani Camara come off the bench, considering they were the team’s best players last season. Grant’s best option would be to rebuild his value after a subpar season and make it easier for the Blazers to trade him to a team that may want him as a starter.

Here’s more on the Trail Blazers:

Jody Allen is running the team, though technically she’s not the owner, Bruce Schoenfeld of Sportico writes in an in-depth feature. She is the executor of Paul Allen’s estate and the sole trustee of his assets and is required by the terms of her brother’s will to eventually sell the team. While the Blazers announced in May that the franchise is for sale, Jody Allen doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to do so or to find out exactly how much the franchise is currently worth. Keeping the team in Portland is assumed to be a condition when the team is sold.
The lease on the Moda Center expires in 2030 and Highkin speculates that the future ownership group will pressure the state for money to build a new arena. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said recently that “One of the factors there is that the city of Portland likely needs a new arena, so that will be part of the challenge for any new ownership group coming in.” Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson issued a joint open letter to Silver, suggesting instead that major renovations to Moda Center would suffice.
In case you missed it, Damian Lillard will be the GM for Weber State’s men’s basketball program. Get the details here.

Northwest Notes: Reid, Edwards, Caruso, Blazers

April 30th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Luke Adams

After winning the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award last season, Timberwolves big man Naz Reid placed fifth in 2024/25, earning just a single first-place vote. But he played a similar role in Minnesota this season, establishing new career highs in points (14.2), rebounds (6.0), and assists (2.3) per game.

As Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic writes, Reid has continued to prove his importance to the team during the first round of the playoffs. In Minnesota’s three victories, the big man has compiled 46 points on 16-of-26 shooting (61.5%) and the Wolves have outscored the Lakers by 32 points during his 78 minutes on the court. Perhaps most importantly, Reid has made 9-of-10 shots from the floor, including 6-of-6 three-pointers, in fourth quarters during the series.

“(Head coach Chris Finch) has kind of had that faith in me throughout the whole year,” Reid said after making a handful of big shots to help the Wolves clinch a Game 4 win. “I’ve kind of grown to be a player that you can kind of count on.”

A strong postseason could be a financial boon for Reid, who holds a $15MM player option for 2025/26 and could turn it down in order to sign a more lucrative longer-term contract.

We have more from around the Northwest:

Although Anthony Edwards has shown little interest in the idea of becoming the eventual face of the NBA, Krawczynski argues in a separate story for The Athletic that the Timberwolves star may have little choice in the matter if he keeps submitting playoff performances against superstar opponents like he has against LeBron James and Luka Doncic in round one. In Game 4, Edwards scored 16 of his 43 points in the fourth quarter to help Minnesota secure a comeback victory and take a 3-1 lead in the series.
In a conversation with Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, Thunder guard Alex Caruso discussed what impresses him about the organization, what makes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander unique, and the message he has delivered to his teammates about what it takes to win a championship. Caruso was part of the Lakers team that won a title in 2020. “It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in sports,” Caruso said. “It just takes so many different things to go right and so many different players and coaches to have input and dictate the game. It isn’t something that’s easy. That’s the thing I’m trying to get to. I try to tell the guys, ‘This is going to be the hardest thing you’ll ever do in sports.'”
In a series of mailbag articles for his Rose Garden Report Substack, Sean Highkin tackles questions about whether the Trail Blazers‘ retooling timeline has accelerated, which players most need to be traded this offseason, and what the future holds for Anfernee Simons. Highkin believes Portland needs to find a way to move on from Jerami Grant this summer, given the emergence of forwards Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara, but doesn’t necessarily view Simons as a safe bet to be moved.

Western Notes: Jones, Davis, Wolves, Blazers, Cronin

April 10th, 2025 at 10:12pm CST by Earnest Marshall

Kai Jones has filled a critical role since joining the Mavericks on a two-way contract in early March. In 11 games (six starts) for a Dallas team suffering from crucial injuries, Jones is averaging 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 84.8% from the field.

According to RG.org’s Grant Afseth, head coach Jason Kidd was complimentary of Jones and recognized his impact on keeping Dallas in the postseason picture.

“Kai’s been phenomenal,” Kidd said. “We’re very lucky to have him because he’s part of what saved our season.”

In an exclusive interview with Afseth, Jones spoke about what allowed him to emerge for the Mavericks and how he’s developed since entering the league in 2021.

“I’ve been working on everything, from the summertime to now, just working on my all-around game — understanding the game, understanding when to take certain shots, when to shoot three, when to shoot the mid-range, when to attack,” Jones said. “Just continuing to rep everything out. I feel comfortable everywhere on the floor, so it’s been a good opportunity to show that. Just continuing to work every single day, you know how it is.”

We have more from the Western Conference:

Terence Davis was thankful to receive the call to join the Kings and is excited to be back with the team he spent parts of three seasons with from 2021-23, according to Fox 40 Sacramento’s Sean Cunningham (Twitter link). “Any time you come to a familiar place and you have friends and front office guys, teammates that show love to you, it’s awesome, it’s an amazing feeling,” Davis said. “In my case, I feel like I kind of made a small impact on this organization. … I’m just thankful.” In 121 appearances (16 starts) with the Kings during his original stint, Davis averaged 8.6 points per game.
The Timberwolves showed what kind of team they were when they lost a Tuesday game against Milwaukee in which they led by 24 points in the fourth quarter, Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic opines. The Bucks were able flip the script of the game by switching to a zone defense. “It’s a bad fourth quarter against a zone defense,” coach Chris Finch said. “I don’t think it’s a microcosm of the season.” Krawczynski believes it’s deeper than that, with Minnesota rolling through parts of the season before coming to a screeching halt in a difficult loss.
Trail Blazers general manager Joe Cronin earned an extension on Monday, showcasing the club’s dedication to fulfilling his vision for the organization, Sean Highkin of Rose Garden Report writes. Portland has had a respectable season, staying in play-in contention until the spring, with young players like Toumani Camara among those who have taken serious strides. Now, as Highkin notes, the Blazers will need to make decisions on key veterans Anfernee Simons and Jerami Grant and the future of coach Chauncey Billups.

Cavs Notes: Hunter, Tyson, Jerome, LeVert, Niang

February 8th, 2025 at 4:05pm CST by Luke Adams

Long, athletic, and skilled wings have given the Cavaliers trouble this season, which is why – despite Cleveland’s 42-10 record – the front office explored the trade market leading up to Thursday’s trade deadline in search of someone who could help the club deal with that type of player, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes (subscription required).

According to Fedor, Cameron Johnson, Lonzo Ball, Marcus Smart, and Jerami Grant were among the potential targets who intrigued the Cavs. But the asking price for the Nets forward was too high, the Bulls guard agreed to an extension, there were injury concerns about the Grizzlies guard, and the Trail Blazers forward’s $29.8MM cap hit was too challenging to accommodate.

As the Cavs weighed their options, they kept coming back to Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter, who had been on their radar for years, Fedor reported earlier this week. Cleveland’s front office spoke to several trusted sources about Hunter, including former Cav and current Hawk Larry Nance Jr., who was a strong advocate for his teammate, Fedor writes.

The Cavs also spent time analyzing Hunter’s defense, evaluating how he might match up with top Eastern Conference wings like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Mikal Bridges, Pascal Siakam and others, ultimately concluding he would be an asset on that end of the court, per Fedor.

With Hunter and Caris LeVert as the centerpieces, the Cavaliers and Hawks discussed various trade constructions, with Cleveland resisting the inclusion of its 2031 first-round pick and rookie Jaylon Tyson. The two teams thought they might need to involve a third club as a facilitator in order to make sure they both got below the tax line, but that issue was addressed when Atlanta worked out a separate deal to send Cody Zeller to Houston.

The Cavs ultimately agreed to send LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and a pair of pick swaps to the Hawks. According to Fedor, Cleveland believes that Hunter will be a better postseason fit than the outgoing players and that he’ll be a key contributor for years to come, turning the team into a more serious title contender.

“The acquisition of De’Andre Hunter and the potential impact a player of this caliber can bring to Cleveland is immeasurable,” president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a statement after the deal was finalized. “We were presented with a great opportunity with this trade, one that was beneficial for the short- and long-term future of this franchise.

“While it’s always difficult to part ways with players who have meant so much to our success, we believe De’Andre, at 27-years-old, aligns with our long-term vision of sustainable success and ultimately competing for championships.”

Here’s more on the deal:

It’s unclear whether Hunter will immediately become Cleveland’s starting small forward, but Altman lauded the forward’s versatility and believes he’ll be able to slot seamlessly into several different kinds of lineups. “We’re going to play him all over the floor,” Altman said, per Fedor.
According to Fedor (subscription required), Hunter and his former University of Virginia teammate Ty Jerome talked “almost every day” since they entered the NBA in 2019 about the possibility of one day playing together. Shortly after they learned about the deal sending Hunter to Cleveland, they got on the phone and started “screaming with excitement,” Fedor writes. “It’s surreal,” Jerome said on Friday. “It’s wild. Obviously, it was more of a joke because we’re both on our individual journeys in this league, but we talked about it all the time. Like, ‘How cool would it be to play together?'”
Although Jerome said he “couldn’t be more excited” about the addition of Hunter, he made it clear he’s sorry to see LeVert and Niang go. “I don’t want to undersell the value Caris and Georges brought to us and just how close I was to those guys,” Jerome said, according to Fedor. “Those two guys meant a lot to us on and off the court. It’s a tough business, and I’ve seen it many times in my six years. It sucks to lose those guys. At first, I was like, ‘(Expletive), it’s Caris and Georges. They’re dealing with the emotions of leaving this group and we’re dealing with losing them.’ And then it’s like, ‘Oh (expletive), we got De’Andre and I’m playing with one of best friends since 2016 again.'”
Interestingly, when Hunter and Jerome entered the league in 2019, they thought there was a chance they’d be drafted by the same team, Fedor writes. That team was the Cavs, who had the fifth and 26th overall picks in that draft. But Hunter was selected fourth overall by Atlanta, leaving Darius Garland for Cleveland at No. 5. Jerome was drafted by Phoenix at No. 24, two spots before Cleveland’s pick. “Clearly worked out,” Jerome said on Friday with a smile. “Now, they’ve got all three of us.”

Blazers GM Cronin On Quiet Deadline: ‘We Just Didn’t Find The Value’

February 7th, 2025 at 5:03pm CST by Luke Adams

The Trail Blazers were viewed for much of the season as a likely seller at the trade deadline, with veterans like Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, Robert Williams, and Deandre Ayton among the players believed to be available.

However, Portland was one of just five NBA teams that didn’t make a single trade in the week leading up to Thursday’s deadline. Speaking on Thursday to reporters, including Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, general manager Joe Cronin explained why the club’s inactivity.

“We know a lot of fans, and probably a lot of people in here, prefer a little bit of action,” Cronin said. “Often, we do too. We’re always looking for ways to participate in these windows and find guys who can help us be better. But this time around, we just didn’t find the value. So, we decided to pass.

“… I would say we got fairly close on a few things. Nothing that dragged out all the way through (Thursday). Some of the stuff was exhausted over the last couple of weeks. There are a few that made some sense for us and for the other team, but just didn’t happen.”

Grant, Simons, Williams, and Ayton aren’t necessarily part of the long-term core in Portland, which is headlined by younger players like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan. But Simons, Williams, and Ayton have one more year left on their respective contracts, while Grant is locked up for at least two more seasons beyond this one, so there was no urgency to move them right now — there will be opportunities to do so in future transaction windows.

Cronin said on Thursday that he likes having those veterans around for their leadership and their “functionality on the court.” The Blazers’ GM noted that he also “had to consider not rocking the boat” during the team’s recent hot streak. After an uninspiring 13-28 first half, Portland has unexpectedly won 10 of 11 games since January 19 and is suddenly within 2.5 games of a play-in spot.

“I think it would be unfair to take (the chance to reach the postseason) away from them,” Cronin said. “I’m so proud and so excited about these guys that the sky’s the limit. Go win. Let’s see what you can do.”

Head coach Chauncey Billups said he was appreciative of the opportunity to keep working with this roster.

“I love what we have,” he said. “I love what we’ve been working on. I love how we’re developing. Right now, we’re learning a lot about each other. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Here are a few more Blazers-related items:

Jason Quick of The Athletic details how a series of four meetings – including one in which Billups directly challenged Henderson and two in which he delivered “brutally honest assessments” to Sharpe about his defense – helped spur the Blazers’ turnaround.
The Blazers hold an option on Billups’ contract for the 2025/26 season, according to Quick, who hears from agent Andy Miller that team ownership has yet to talk to the head coach about his future in Portland. “I have not had any discussion with them regarding his option and possible extension,” Miller said. “We are completely confident with his development and body of work as a coach. He is well-respected league-wide as both coach and a leader.”
While there was a widespread belief earlier in the season that Billups was unlikely to remain in his current role beyond 2024/25, he deserves a lot of credit for pushing the right buttons in recent weeks, writes Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report (Substack link). “Nobody on the team wavered on Chauncey’s message [early in the season],” Simons said earlier this week. “It can be frustrating at times when you don’t see the results. But we stuck with it. We’ve been sticking with how we want to play. It took some time to get adjusted to playing faster now, getting to know each other. But he’s been preaching the same thing all year. We’re seeing the results of the things he’s been preaching.”

Trade Rumors: Cavs, Hunter, Boucher, Heat, Blazers, Pacers

February 6th, 2025 at 11:50am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers and Hawks continue to discuss a potential trade that would send forward De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland, as Marc Stein and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line tweet. Reporting earlier this week indicated that the two teams were talking about a deal centered around Hunter and Caris LeVert, with a subsequent report referring to the Cavs as the frontrunner to land Hunter.

According to Fischer and Stein, one complication in the talks is that both Cleveland and Atlanta would like to end up below the luxury tax line.

The Hawks are currently below that threshold by approximately $1.2MM, while the Cavs are above it by about $1.8MM, so a third team would likely need to be brought in as a facilitator to take on a contract and ensure both teams are able to remain out of tax territory.

The Pistons, who still have a good deal of cap flexibility, could be a third party to watch, observes Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter link).

Here are a few more trade rumors from around the NBA with the 2025 deadline just a couple hours away:

After agreeing to acquire Brandon Ingram and accommodate a Miami salary dump, the Raptors are still exploring the possibility of making one more move, likely involving big man Chris Boucher, reports Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca (Twitter link).
The Heat, who are about $2.8MM above the luxury tax line after reaching a deal with Toronto today, will likely continue trying to get below that threshold before this afternoon’s deadline, tweets Anthony Chiang of The Miami Herald.
Although the Trail Blazers have a handful of veteran trade candidates on their roster, there hasn’t been a ton of trade chatter in Portland, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian, who suggests that big man Robert Williams is the only player consistently mentioned in the days leading up to the deadline. Jerami Grant, Anfernee Simons, and Deandre Ayton had also been considered available, but they’re on bigger contracts and have played crucial roles in the Blazers’ recent hot streak.
Dustin Dopirak of The Indianapolis Star explains why various moves and reports from around the league point to the Pacers having a relatively quiet trade deadline.
Arguing in favor of the Knicks keeping center Mitchell Robinson rather than trading him, Stefan Bondy of The New York Post (subscription required) makes the case that a healthy Robinson is the most impactful player the team could realistically add this month.

Cavaliers, Hawks Have Discussed Hunter, LeVert

February 5th, 2025 at 8:39am CST by Luke Adams

The Cavaliers have expressed interest in Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter, multiple sources tell Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link), confirming a report from HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. According to Fedor, the Cavs’ talks with Atlanta have centered around swingman Caris LeVert.

Due to the difference between Hunter’s current cap hit ($21.7MM) and LeVert’s ($16.6MM), Cleveland would have to send out at least one more player in any deal involving the Hawks forward to avoid surpassing the first tax apron, according to Fedor, who suggests that rookie Jaylon Tyson ($3.3MM) would be one possibility. Atlanta may also seek draft assets — Cleveland controls its 2031 first-round pick, along with a few second-rounders.

According to Fedor, the Cavaliers have had Hunter on their radar for years, dating back to the 2019 draft when he went fourth overall to Atlanta, one pick ahead of Cleveland at No. 5. Sources tell Cleveland.com that the Cavs have done “extensive” homework on the 27-year-old, frequently inquiring over the years about his availability and what it would take to acquire him.

Hunter is having the best year of his career in 2024/25, averaging 18.9 points per game on .459/.386/.858 shooting through 36 outings (28.5 MPG). He’s also the sort of long, athletic wing that the Cavaliers have long been seeking and is close friends with guard Ty Jerome dating back to their days at the University of Virginia, Fedor notes, so Cleveland would be confident about his fit.

As Fedor reports, the Cavs have also checked in on several other possible trade candidates, such as Cameron Johnson (Nets), Jerami Grant (Trail Blazers), Javonte Green (Pelicans), Cody Martin (Hornets), Chris Boucher (Raptors), Julian Champagnie (Spurs), Obi Toppin (Pacers), and Royce O’Neale (Suns). However, the front office is wary about messing with the chemistry of a team that sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 40-10 record.

Cavs players and head coach Kenny Atkinson discussed that aspect of the trade deadline on Tuesday, per Fedor.

“You have to listen,” Atkinson said. “You’d be really not smart if you didn’t listen and talk about how you can get better. It’s the business we’re in. We’re really good, obviously, but it could always be something out there that gets us to the next level. My one thing to [president of basketball operations] Koby [Altman] is we have great chemistry right now and a great culture, great locker room culture. That’s super important to me. If it is a trade, if it is a buyout, it’s got to be the right fit.”

“If you take away somebody, especially somebody in the locker room, a locker room presence, it’s gonna disrupt it,” center Jarrett Allen said. “At the end of the day, we’re all close to each other. But as you know, that’s how things go.”

Both Allen and Donovan Mitchell said on Tuesday that they believe the Cavaliers have enough to be a title contender. Still, the front office is keeping an eye out for ways to make upgrades. Sources tell Fedor that Cleveland is also considering the idea of making a small trade or two around the margins, with another big man among the possibilities the club is weighing.

If the Cavs don’t make a move at the trade deadline, they’ll likely take a look at the buyout market, according to Fedor, who points to Lonzo Ball as a player to watch, though a Tuesday report suggested the Bulls won’t be eager to buy out Ball if they hang onto him through the deadline. Torrey Craig, who was waived by Chicago earlier this week, is another player to monitor, Fedor adds.

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