With about an hour left until the NBA trade deadline, the Hawks have struck a deal with the Cavaliers, sending De’Andre Hunter to Cleveland in exchange for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, according to Shams Charania.
Cleveland was considered the frontrunner for the former fourth overall pick, and they got the deal done. Hunter is amid the best season of his career, averaging a career-high 19 points per game on the most efficient shooting of his career, with a 56% effective field goal percentage. He’s a legit Sixth Man of the Year award candidate.
Hunter has struggled to stay healthy, only playing more than 60 games twice in the previous five seasons. This was a difficult spot for the Hawks. Is Hunter finally turning a corner, finding his niche off the bench, and putting the injuries behind him? Or is it better to sell high on the wing before his value plummets as it did with other Hawks trade candidates?
There’s a case to be made for both, and I’m glad I’m not the one who had to make the decision, but Hawks fans are going to rightfully be disappointed with the return of LeVert, Niang, and no first-round picks.
The Cavs, on the other hand, just got a whole lot better. The top seed in the Eastern Conference added a 3-and-D wing that can get his own bucket, hitting threes at nearly a 40% clip, and can impact the game on the defensive end of the court.
If Hunter remains healthy, the Hawks will regret this trade.
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Photo: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire
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