The Cleveland Cavaliers are making a move at Thursday's NBA trade deadline in an effort to stay atop the Eastern Conference, as multiple outlets are reporting the title hopefuls have agreed to acquire forward De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for wings Caris LeVert and Georges Niang. (More NBA News)
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers Acquire Atlanta Hawks Forward De'Andre Hunter - Report
Hunter's 19.0 points per game and 39.3 percentage on 3-point attempts are both career highs, and he's previously performed well in the playoffs with a 16.3 points-per-game average and a 40.0 per cent 3-point accuracy in 16 career post-season games
According to ESPN, the Hawks will also receive three second-round picks and the right to swap two first-round selections in exchange for Hunter, who is in the midst of his best season despite primarily coming off the bench for the first time in his six-year career.
Hunter's 19.0 points per game and 39.3 percentage on 3-point attempts are both career highs, and he's previously performed well in the playoffs with a 16.3 points-per-game average and a 40.0 per cent 3-point accuracy in 16 career post-season games.
Taken by the Hawks one spot ahead of Cleveland All-Star guard Darius Garland with the fourth overall pick of the 2019 draft, Hunter has averaged 14.8 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.8 per cent from 3-point range in 300 career regular-season games.
Hunter is also regarded as a solid defender who gives the Cavaliers some added size on the wing at 6-foot-7 and 225 pounds.
Cleveland will be parting with two key bench pieces in the deal, as both LeVert and Niang have shot 40 per cent or better on 3-pointers as regular contributors to a Cavaliers team that leads the NBA in offensive efficiency (1.19 points per possession) this season.
LeVert is averaging 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 38 games in 2024-25 and has career averages of 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Niang is a career 39.8 per cent 3-point shooter who is averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 assists in 51 games this season.
Both will be joining a Hawks team that's fallen back in the East and is seeking a roster reset after losing nine of its last 10 games. Atlanta has dropped to ninth place in the conference.
Hunter is in the second year of a four-year, $90 million extension he signed with Atlanta prior to the start of the 2022-23 season. LeVert is on an expiring contract while Niang is signed through 2025-26.
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The Cavaliers currently lead the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics by five games atop the East with a 41-10 record.
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