Cavaliers acquire De’Andre Hunter from Hawks: Source

On By Littum

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Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Spider de’Anre Hunter from Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Caris Lever, Georges Niang, Three Second Round Elections and Two Choices Swaps, A League Source has confirmed to have confirmed to The athletic.

The trade was first reported by ESPN.

Hunter, 27, has his best year in an Atlanta uniform, and this trade leaves many questions about how exactly the Anemical Atlanta overcome will score points the rest of the way with Jalen Johnson already out in the season. That said, Hawks had to do this, the return is simply too good, and Hunter’s future reliability health is too questionable. Getting three seconds and two swaps is far more than Hawks could have returned to him at any second moment in recent history and relieves Haukene for the two years and $ 48 million back on his deal beyond this season.

The trade will put the Hawks over the luxury tax unless another player is directed somewhere else or another small deal has been created, such as dumping the never-seen-i-Atlanta cody Zeller’s $ 3.5 million. Probably this part is in the works.

Liver has an expiring agreement worth $ 16.2 million. He has had a good year and it is possible that Atlanta could bring him back with bird rights. Niang has fought, but fills a backup 4 position that has been a shiny weakness all season; He earns $ 8.2 million next season.

This deal does not make Atlanta a CAP room team for 2025, but Hawks should have plenty of flexibility with about $ 40 million Wiggle room under the tax line. Some of it could be used to bring back free agents as a liver, Clint Capela or Larry Nance, but Hawks must be able to use their full non -taxpayer midleleve exemption regardless.

Finally, has a fun fact: Hunter has an incentive of $ 250,000 in his contract to make the NBA final and play at least 70 matches. He does not hit the Games threshold this year, but on a loaded Cleveland team he may actually gather on it in 2026 or 2027.

This story will be updated.

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(Photo: Brett Davis / USA Today Sports)