Cavaliers swing deadline deal with Hawks acquiring De'Andre Hunter
BY TIM SHIRER
CAVALIERS BEAT WRITER
(CLEVELAND, OH) - The Cleveland Cavaliers made the move on Thursday afternoon that pundits and fans who follow the team were waiting for as the Cavs reportedly acquired De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. The Cavs sent swing men Caris LeVert and Georges Niang along with three second round picks.
Hunter was drafted with the Los Angles Lakers first round pick in 2019 (4th overall) and was then traded on July 6th to the New Orleans Pelicans in a multi player and team swap which including Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram and also the Washington Wizards.
Hunter was then traded by the Pelicans the next day to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for multiple players. In 2022 he signed a multi year extension with Atlanta thru the 2026-2027 season.
LeVert was acquired by the Cavs at the trade deadline in 2022 in exchange for Ricky Rubio and a 1st round draft pick. The Cavs also received a 2nd round pick which turned out to be Luke Travers. LeVert signed a multi year extension with the Cavs in the summer of 2023 which runs thru the current season.
Niang was signed by the Cavs in the summer of 2023 after seven seasons and three teams (Indiana, Utah and Philadelphia). Niang is signed through the 2025-26 for $8.4 million.
Hunter will most likely if not definitely move into the starting small forward spot for the Cavs moving Max Strus to the bench. No word on when Hunter will join the Cavs pending his physical. The Cavs are back in action next on Friday night in Washington to take on the Wizards who were also active at the trade deadline.
POSTED 02/06/2025 21:41
Lake County Sentinel
The Cavaliers De"andre Hunter (middle #12) playing defense against the Cavaliers in November.
Photo by Tommy Shirer
