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The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward De'Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, sources tell ESPN.

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lhjqg3rkpk2m

Per Chris Fedor, The second-round picks Cavs have agreed to send are in 2027 (via Denver), 2029 and 2031. Per Brian Windhorst, the pick swaps are 2026 and 2028.

ijspeelman wrote:The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward De'Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, sources tell ESPN.

https://bsky.app/profile/shamsbot.bsky.social/post/3lhjqg3rkpk2m

Per Chris Fedor, The second-round picks Cavs have agreed to send are in 2027 (via Denver), 2029 and 2031. Per Brian Windhorst, the pick swaps are 2026 and 2028.

I hope Windy is right because the trade just got a lot more awesome if we're just giving up swaps on top of the swaps we gave to Utah. Even Hunter's salary doesn't seem as onerous as it did a couple of years ago, especially considering what we're paying LeVert and Niang combined.

Can he stay healthy for us?

I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

ijspeelman wrote:I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

Exactly, I'm used to getting squeezed by our trade partners asking for everything, but the Hawks have been wanting to get out from under Hunter's contract for a while and it had to happen eventually that there'd be a SF on the market we could afford even if it carries some risk.

ijspeelman wrote:I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

Keep in mind, we do still have 2 open roster spots to fill, so could get some more depth.

Want to copy in my initial thoughts from the other thread...

I absolutely LOVE the deal.

-6'8" guy to play SF
-retained our 2031 1st rounder
-got under the tax
-now have 2 open roster spots for buyout candidates

This trade literally was as good as it gets, ticks all the boxes.

JujitsuFlip wrote:

ijspeelman wrote:I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

Keep in mind, we do still have 2 open roster spots to fill, so could get some more depth.

I would've loved a Lonzo Ball buyout, but that isn't happening. I do really want Simmons lol. A little irrationally

ijspeelman wrote:

JujitsuFlip wrote:

ijspeelman wrote:I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

Keep in mind, we do still have 2 open roster spots to fill, so could get some more depth.

I would've loved a Lonzo Ball buyout, but that isn't happening. I do really want Simmons lol. A little irrationally

Simmons could be interesting, but I wonder what he's looking for? Does he still want a team he can run? Something potentially built around him?

Is he ready to accept a bench role on a contender playing as a defensive specialist and a cutter/connector in our offense?

I guess that's better than what he's been doing for Brooklyn lately.

JonFromVA wrote:

ijspeelman wrote:

JujitsuFlip wrote:Keep in mind, we do still have 2 open roster spots to fill, so could get some more depth.

I would've loved a Lonzo Ball buyout, but that isn't happening. I do really want Simmons lol. A little irrationally

Simmons could be interesting, but I wonder what he's looking for? Does he still want a team he can run? Something potentially built around him?

Is he ready to accept a bench role on a contender playing as a defensive specialist and a cutter/connector in our offense?

I guess that's better than what he's been doing for Brooklyn lately.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43722801/sources-nets-working-buyout-agreement-ben-simmons

Looks like he's looking to play for a contender. Clippers, Rockets, Cavs have been attached. I'd have to assume as a buyout candidate he can't be looking to run a team.

ijspeelman wrote:

JujitsuFlip wrote:

ijspeelman wrote:I wasn't wowed by the LeVert/Niang package originally when we talked about it in the trade thread mostly because I really thought we'd have to sweeten the deal with Tyson or the 2031 first. I am pretty happy with this trade. This takes Niang's minutes and gives them to Hunter + some from Merrill and Okoro (I assume). This also extends Jerome to a real 6th man and he will play a lot more minutes (I assume).

I am curious if they go with Hunter as the starter. I am also curious to see Hunter in our offensive and defensive system. I do not necessarily trust him as that extra passer, but if they can get him comfortable for the playoffs I am down.

I assume we are going to be a little less dangerous in the RS with a little less depth, but a lot more built for the PS. I expect CPJ and/or Tyson to get some real RS minutes the rest of the way (especially with Wade/Okoro out).

Keep in mind, we do still have 2 open roster spots to fill, so could get some more depth.

I would've loved a Lonzo Ball buyout, but that isn't happening. I do really want Simmons lol. A little irrationally

We have 2 spots, so I'm fine with Ben in one of them. He really would need to try and get his mind and body right before April.

I would totally take Ben. What position would he play? Hell, I'd take him as Allen's backup, which we oddly never pursue for some reason.

For the last 3 and a half seasons (since we've been competitive) why do we never pursue a backup center, and why does no one ever seem to care? My biggest fear has always been if Allen or Mobley go down our season is over. Hunter now slightly alleviates this (being able to play some 4).

I don't love this deal, but we didn't give up much. Here's to hoping Hunter looks like a plus defender after being moved to a good team.

Health and apron issues are the risk here. That said, we can load manage him and we're a lot more versatile in terms of positional, and offense/defense/rebounding balance.

cavs4872 wrote:I would totally take Ben. What position would he play? Hell, I'd take him as Allen's backup, which we oddly never pursue for some reason.

For the last 3 and a half seasons (since we've been competitive) why do we never pursue a backup center, and why does no one ever seem to care? My biggest fear has always been if Allen or Mobley go down our season is over. Hunter now slightly alleviates this (being able to play some 4).

You don't trust Tristan Kardashian off the PEDs to man that spot? lmao kidding

So when the website crashed, I started looking elsewhere

https://bsky.app/profile/ejmaroun.bsky.social/post/3lhjwy6jw522z

jbk1234 wrote:So when the website crashed, I started looking elsewhere

https://bsky.app/profile/ejmaroun.bsky.social/post/3lhjwy6jw522z

Hahaha you must be overjoyed at this trade!

But yeah, nice to get Niang off the roster so the top teams stop targeting him. Guy was so dang slow on closeouts and defensive rotations.

JujitsuFlip wrote:

jbk1234 wrote:So when the website crashed, I started looking elsewhere

https://bsky.app/profile/ejmaroun.bsky.social/post/3lhjwy6jw522z

Hahaha you must be overjoyed at this trade!

But yeah, nice to get Niang off the roster so the top teams stop targeting him. Guy was so dang slow on closeouts and defensive rotations.

If he was an adequate rebounder for his size, I could've lived with him.

I still can’t forget Tatum feasting on him. I do wonder what he looks like with Mobley/Allen behind him. I’m happy they moved to preserve the salary slot, improved roster balance, and created a path for Jerome.


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ijspeelman wrote:

JonFromVA wrote:

ijspeelman wrote:
I would've loved a Lonzo Ball buyout, but that isn't happening. I do really want Simmons lol. A little irrationally

Simmons could be interesting, but I wonder what he's looking for? Does he still want a team he can run? Something potentially built around him?

Is he ready to accept a bench role on a contender playing as a defensive specialist and a cutter/connector in our offense?

I guess that's better than what he's been doing for Brooklyn lately.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43722801/sources-nets-working-buyout-agreement-ben-simmons

Looks like he's looking to play for a contender. Clippers, Rockets, Cavs have been attached. I'd have to assume as a buyout candidate he can't be looking to run a team.

All depends how he sees his career going from here on out and while it may make perfect sense to us for him to transition in to a defensive big man off the bench who can do some passing and act as a hub, at only 28 years old he may imagine finding a team that lost their starting PG and has what he thinks he needs put around him to re-establish value.

Ben did apparently leave Klutch, so that's a non-factor.

I wasn’t a fan of this deal this afternoon and I’m glad we didn’t have to pay anything of much value here. We’ll see if there are fit/chemistry issues a day or two after hearing interviews from Mitchell and other players about not needing to make a move.

But it’s hard to argue the Niang’s old minutes won’t be better when taken by Hunter, the LeVert minutes that Hunter takes at the 3 should be about as good, and Jerome should be ready for full backup guard duty in LeVert’s guard minutes.

We should look really good at full strength, but Hunter is another injury-prone key piece.