Shams: De'Andre Hunter for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps

[jbk1234]

Quick synopsis? Don't want to pay for a cleveland.com subscription lol

I don't think there's a paywall on this one.

Sadly, its telling me it has one on the site.

Might be an ad blocker situation. In sum, they did a lot of due diligence on Hunter. He and Mobley share an agent and workout together. He and Ty obviously go way back. Garland and him have been tight going back to their draft class. Watched tape on him guarding the wings we're likely to face., etc...

They've been keeping tabs on his availability for years. He was their primary target. There were concerns as to whether Niang was playable in the postseason. Concerns about LeVert's contract status and prior playoff performances. If LeVert left for nothing, they really had no way of replacing him.

[JujitsuFlip]

I don't think there's a paywall on this one.

Sadly, its telling me it has one on the site.

Might be an ad blocker situation. In sum, they did a lot of due diligence on Hunter. He and Mobley share an agent and workout together. He and Ty obviously go way back. Garland and him have been tight going back to their draft class. Watched tape on him guarding the wings we're likely to face., etc...

They've been keeping tabs on his availability for years. He was their primary target. There were concerns as to whether Niang was playable in the postseason. Concerns about LeVert's contract status and prior playoff performances. If LeVert left for nothing, they really had no way of replacing him.

Good summary, i really like the move.

I also like the 2 out 1 in, so now we get 2 tries at buyout guys this time around.

I liked Morris and Green but they both obviously had their flaws.

[ijspeelman]

Might be an ad blocker situation. In sum, they did a lot of due diligence on Hunter. He and Mobley share an agent and workout together. He and Ty obviously go way back. Garland and him have been tight going back to their draft class. Watched tape on him guarding the wings we're likely to face., etc...

They've been keeping tabs on his availability for years. He was their primary target. There were concerns as to whether Niang was playable in the postseason. Concerns about LeVert's contract status and prior playoff performances. If LeVert left for nothing, they really had no way of replacing him.

Thanks! I'm glad there are so many connections and they've been tracking him this entire time waiting to pounce. Makes me feel better about the trade

[ijspeelman]

Might be an ad blocker situation. In sum, they did a lot of due diligence on Hunter. He and Mobley share an agent and workout together. He and Ty obviously go way back. Garland and him have been tight going back to their draft class. Watched tape on him guarding the wings we're likely to face., etc...

They've been keeping tabs on his availability for years. He was their primary target. There were concerns as to whether Niang was playable in the postseason. Concerns about LeVert's contract status and prior playoff performances. If LeVert left for nothing, they really had no way of replacing him.

Thanks! I'm glad there are so many connections and they've been tracking him this entire time waiting to pounce. Makes me feel better about the trade

I was able to get access to the full article. I know Fedor is a mouthpiece for the organization sometimes, but its cool to hear him say the Cavs watched and monitor tape with Hunter as the main assignment on an assortment of East wings (Tatum, Brown, Giannis, Siakam, Banchero, etc) and come out of that assessment thinking he's a plus. From what I've seen (not paying as close of an eye), what we've discussed, and what the advanced defensive metrics say, he does not show to be a plus.

However, I am excited to see it on-court. I assume he'll debut Monday or Wednesday?

Edit: Also adding that I think he's going to be treated as a Wade/LeVert hybrid on offense. I really want to see his assists go up on a per-possession basis with the Cavs, but we will see. He'll never be at LeVert levels, but based on how I assume his actions will go I just hope he can have more than Wade and hold a positive AST/TO ratio. He has never had a higher ast/100 pos season than Wade's current season and we've seen Wade play... its not like he's touching the ball all that much lol. His TS% this season matches our season average so even if he's somewhat of a ball stopper, but he keeps up his efficiency it will be great offense.

[JonFromVA]

Might be an ad blocker situation. In sum, they did a lot of due diligence on Hunter. He and Mobley share an agent and workout together. He and Ty obviously go way back. Garland and him have been tight going back to their draft class. Watched tape on him guarding the wings we're likely to face., etc...

They've been keeping tabs on his availability for years. He was their primary target. There were concerns as to whether Niang was playable in the postseason. Concerns about LeVert's contract status and prior playoff performances. If LeVert left for nothing, they really had no way of replacing him.

Thanks! I'm glad there are so many connections and they've been tracking him this entire time waiting to pounce. Makes me feel better about the trade

I was able to get access to the full article. I know Fedor is a mouthpiece for the organization sometimes, but its cool to hear him say the Cavs watched and monitor tape with Hunter as the main assignment on an assortment of East wings (Tatum, Brown, Giannis, Siakam, Banchero, etc) and come out of that assessment thinking he's a plus. From what I've seen (not paying as close of an eye), what we've discussed, and what the advanced defensive metrics say, he does not show to be a plus.

However, I am excited to see it on-court. I assume he'll debut Monday or Wednesday?

Edit: Also adding that I think he's going to be treated as a Wade/LeVert hybrid on offense. I really want to see his assists go up on a per-possession basis with the Cavs, but we will see. He'll never be at LeVert levels, but based on how I assume his actions will go I just hope he can have more than Wade and hold a positive AST/TO ratio. He has never had a higher ast/100 pos season than Wade's current season and we've seen Wade play... its not like he's touching the ball all that much lol. His TS% this season matches our season average so even if he's somewhat of a ball stopper, but he keeps up his efficiency it will be great offense.

We'll have to see for ourselves, but I don't get the impression he's a ball stopper so much as a play finisher. As long as he's being decisive, not over dribbling, and moves the ball when he can't shoot/attack he should fit fine.

[ijspeelman]

#Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson says that the plan is for De’Andre Hunter to make his team debut tomorrow against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

https://bsky.app/profile/dannycunningham.bsky.social/post/3lhrd3exx5c23

[toooskies]

Gotta say from his first five games: Hunter is better at getting his own shot than I thought. He's also worse at passing than I thought. Just no instinct for finding the next guy at all.

[ijspeelman]

Gotta say from his first five games: Hunter is better at getting his own shot than I thought. He's also worse at passing than I thought. Just no instinct for finding the next guy at all.

He's made some okay passes, but yeah he's calling his own number if he's handling the ball. And like you said, I'm surprised at how good his looks are. I am also somewhat shocked by the midrange frequency, but he's been efficient from there for the past few years so I am not going to complain. Its a diff look and it'd be nice to see if he can find playmaking opportunities out of these.

[ijspeelman]

Also, not that he's a world beater or anything, but the defense has been better than advertised. Its very apparent the Cavs think he can take on tough match-ups and he's stepped up to the challenge.

I've seen a few missed rotations, buuuuut he's learning a new system to I am not going to fault him yet. Every time he misses rotations or switches I see the coaching staff and/or players go right to him and explain the miss.

[JonFromVA]

Gotta say from his first five games: Hunter is better at getting his own shot than I thought. He's also worse at passing than I thought. Just no instinct for finding the next guy at all.

He's made some okay passes, but yeah he's calling his own number if he's handling the ball. And like you said, I'm surprised at how good his looks are. I am also somewhat shocked by the midrange frequency, but he's been efficient from there for the past few years so I am not going to complain. Its a diff look and it'd be nice to see if he can find playmaking opportunities out of these.

Haha, yeah, I got the impression his passing was non-existent but that hasn't been the case. His 2 assists .vs. the Griz is hopefully a sign he's starting to figure out where his teammates are going to be.

I expected him to be a finisher first and foremost and he's been excellent. His ability to score from 3pt, at the rim, or in the mid range will be invaluable all while giving us more on defense and length.

Just have to keep him healthy somehow ...