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Cavs acquire De'Andre Hunter from Hawks for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, picks
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- Cavs acquire De'Andre Hunter from Hawks for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, picks
CLEVELAND — The NBA universe was rocked this past weekend with the announcement of a stunning blockbuster trade that altered the path of two franchises. Substantial moves followed throughout the league.
The question about whether the team with the Eastern Conference's best record would make moves has been answered.
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The Cavaliers (41-10) acquired forward De'Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for guard Caris LeVert , forward Georges Niang , three second-round picks and two draft-pick swaps before Thursday's trade deadline expired. The team announced the move early Friday morning.
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Cavs trade for De'Andre Hunter, send Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, picks to Hawks before NBA trade deadline. What Koby Altman said about deal
Hunter, a 6-foot-8 wing, is averaging 19 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists while primarily coming off the Hawks bench.
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Now 27, Hunter was selected fourth overall, one pick before Darius Garland , in the 2019 NBA Draft. He'll give the Cavs a wing who also can play both the small forward and power forward positions while adding some defensive length along the perimeter, similar to how Dean Wade has been used. Hunter can also shoot the 3 (39.3% this season), giving the Cavs some additional spacing on the offensive end.
"The acquisition of De'Andre Hunter and the potential impact a player of this caliber can bring to Cleveland is immeasurable," Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said in a news release. "His defensive versatility in addition to his ability to make shots from the perimeter strengthens our overall depth to an elite level.
"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.
"We want to thank both Caris and Georges for their contributions to our organization. Their professionalism and dedication both on and off the court have been instrumental in our historic start this season. Caris' adaptability along with Georges' leadership and experience have been invaluable, and their time in Cleveland has left a profound and lasting impression. We wish them nothing but the best for the remainder of their NBA careers."
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Hunter is a close friend of guard Ty Jerome , a former teammate on the University of Virginia's 2019 national championship team.
LeVert had some extra value on the trade market because of his expiring deal. He had a $16.6 million cap hit this season. Hunter carries cap hits of $21.7 million, $23.3 million and $24.9 million over the next three years, respectively.
At the time of the trade, Hunter was also a top contender for Sixth Man of the Year.
A year ago, the Cavs were passive viewers of the trade deadline, as Altman noted Cleveland just couldn't find a significant enough upgrade they felt was worth a move. This year, it appears, Altman found the type of deal that worked for the Cavs.
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Luka Doncic -Anthony Davis trade sets stage for NBA trade deadline
Saturday night's Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers will go down as the headline move from around the NBA. Yet, a flurry of other moves ensued, including the Miami Heat sending Jimmy Butler to the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday.
The Cavaliers did indeed join the pre-deadline activity.
The Cavs entered Thursday with the second-best record in the NBA, trailing only the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-9), and holding and a five-game lead over the Boston Celtics (36-15), who have the No. 2 spot in the East.
Coach Kenny Atkinson and president of basketball operations Koby Altman hold their Cavaliers Media Day availability on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024, in Independence.
It has been a season in which so much has gone right for the Cavs under first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, who has leaned into the roster's strengths and optimized an offense that has been among the league's best.
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The Cavs will be heavily featured at this year's All-Star Game. Donovan Mitchell , Garland and Evan Mobley all earned All-Star selections, and Atkinson will be featured as a coach after Cleveland clinched the top record in the East entering the break.
The question entering this week was whether the Cavs would be active before the deadline to bolster the roster, particularly as injuries have become a small issue (Wade, Isaac Okoro ), or if they'd stand pat, considering they're on a 66-win pace.
Of course, the buyout market will be another option for the Cavs.
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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 26: Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks handles the ball against Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas.
When is the 2025 NBA trade deadline?
This year's trade deadline was 3 p.m. Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs acquire De'Andre Hunter from Hawks before NBA trade deadline
