The Sacramento Kings are acquiring wing De’Andre Hunter from the Cleveland Cavaliers for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, ESPN reported on Saturday night.
As part of a three-team trade, the Chicago Bulls would obtain Kings center/forward Dario Saric and two future second-round draft picks, per the report.
The Cavaliers will save about $50 million in salary and luxury tax bills this season by dealing Hunter and lower their tax bill from $164 million to $120 million, according to ESPN. The Kings will have Hunter under contract for two years after this one at $23.3 million and $24.9 million, per the report.
Hunter, 28, is averaging 14.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 26.2 minutes in 43 games (23 starts) in his first full season in Cleveland.
The fourth overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Hunter began his career with the Atlanta Hawks in 2019 and played there until he was traded to the Cavaliers for Caris LeVert and Georges Niang on Feb. 6, 2025.
Hunter has career averages of 14.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 29.6 minutes in 370 regular-season games (269) starts. He also has averages of 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 30.7 minutes in 24 playoff games (16 starts).
Schroder, 32, is averaging 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 26.4 minutes in 40 games (14 starts) this season, the well-traveled point guard’s first with Sacramento.
He is averaging 13.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 27.3 minutes in 882 regular-season games (438 starts) in 13 seasons. Schroder also averages 11.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 25.1 minutes in 74 postseason games (15 starts).
Atlanta selected Schroder with the 17th overall pick of the 2013 draft.
He has played for the Hawks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Los Angeles Lakers (two stints), Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Toronto Raptors, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons and Kings.
Ellis is in his fourth season with the Kings and is averaging 5.6 points, 1.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 17.6 minutes in 43 games (five starts). His career averages are 6.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 19.2 minutes in 196 games (54 starts).
Saric, 31, is averaging 1.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 8.2 minutes in five games (no starts) this season. He is on an expiring $5.4 million contract, per ESPN.
In his ninth season in the league, Saric has career averages of 10.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 22.3 minutes in 498 regular-season games (230 starts) for seven teams.
