De'Andre Hunter Traded to Cavs - Levert, Niang, picks to ATL

[doogie_hauser]

I think part of the reason Atlanta did this is for tax/money reasons and they are backing on Zach Risacher to take a leap next season, and they already have a strong back court.

It's a great deal for the Cavs, but let's also remember when people said The Hawks got hosed in the DeJounte Murray deal. I can see the pragmatic logic from Atlanta's viewpoint.

[Blazing_royale]

Hunter was killing it for Hawks. Don't get this trade even if they are banking on Zach next season.

[MrBigShot]

Incredible deal for cleveland

[Pointgod]

Crazy good deal for the Cavs. Not sure what's in it for the Hawks. Do they not realize that they don't have their own pick this year?

lol same thing I was thinking. These morons are tanking when they don’t have their own pick!

[jswede]

Cavs going all-in, good for them!

Wouldn’t “all-in” imply giving something of value up?

[ChuckChilly]

What a disgusting lineup we will have for the rest of the year. Trae will probably have to take 30 shots a night now.

[CelticSooner]

[PhilBlackson]

Cavs are now a real threat to win it all.

[HMFFL]

Caris LeVert doesn't need to show up to Atlanta. Please buy the guy out.

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[jswede]

I love when trades that fans have been proposing all year go through This was one of those trades that made too much sense, and we all knew was coming the minutes CLE looked legit under a new coach.

Love this move for CLE even if it means Cavs are low key better than the Celtic's now.

Lavert was playing great for CLE and Niang, for all the hate he gets, is still an elite 3pnt shooter. They will be missed, but CLE had enough depth and shooting on the roster to make them available. Giving up the 2nds is solid compensation, Hunter is locked up on a very nice contract, and outperformed his cap hit this year. He's also in his prime, and having the best season of his career. People will obviously point to hi shooting 40% from 3 for that, but to me it's the new aggression he played with to start the year. He's averaging 5 FTA a game off the bench, and that's what has helped his efficiency.

Trading out LeVert and Niang frees up 15 shots and 40 minutes. Hunter will still get his 30 min and 13 shots up, and guys like Struss should also see some more shots come his way, which is a good thing. CLE already had the best offense in the L this just solidified that, and gave them far more versatility and size on defense.

Great move, as it gives CLE that big wing we've all been clamoring for since DM touched down, and everything just falls into place perfectly.

Mobley and Hunter both just have to be auxillary offensive players

Wade goes to the bench as a stretch forward.

Struss goes to his natural spot as the elite off ball 6th man who plays nice with either Garland or Mitchell.

Okoro/Ty/Merrill all come in and just play their role when called.

Allen
Mobley- Wade
Hunter- Struss
Mitchel- Okoro- Merril- Ty
Garland-

I know I'm higher on Donovan Mitchel than most, think he's a legit Top 10 player, and the best offensive player in the league outside of SGA, Luka, and Jokic. He just gets whatever he wants, and plays with energy and urgency. He is a true #1 scoring option in a league that only has a handful of those.

CAVS have truly done their fans proud in the team they put together, and expectations should be sky high at this point. As a Celtic fan, I wouldn't pick us at this point without homecourt.

CAVS are legit, and it's crazy to think they might be the premier team of the EAST in my lifetime if they could pull this off Did anyone think that would be a thing in hindsight?

Great post. Too much love but that’s ok you are hedging your Celts who are the clear #1. Still.

In the end the Cavs had Jerome, Merrill, Strus, Niang, and even Craig Porter, are all filling that same three and minus-D role at the 2. Levert was a luxury, when not injured. Depth wins you the regular season and keeps your guys fresh, but it doesn’t win you championships. They addressed a need here and just didn’t give up much of anything. The biggest loss is probably Niang’s presence. But I don’t know what Atlanta is going to do with him. Who knows he might wind up back here

[bstein14]

Hunter the 5th best starter on the Cavs, but was the 2nd best starter on the Hawks. As others have mentioned, its kind of a crazy move for Atlanta considering they don't own their own pick this year.

[bstein14]

Cavs really killed two birds with one stone here being able to both upgrade the staring SF spot and at the same time cut costs to get out of the luxury tax. Would have maybe been a bad look for ownership to simply make a cost cutting move and lose depth when you're the #1 seed in the East but when you do it hidden in an actual deal where you upgrade a starter it looks like a great move with no negative backlash for being cheap.

[JujitsuFlip]

As an Atlanta fan, i think the Cavs should keep Hunter as a 6th man.

He has chronic knee issues and needs to be managed. If you give him starter minutes, I have no doubt his knees will flare up again.

The only thing that sucks is our other good option, 6'9" Wade is also made of glass lol

I like Strus and him starting is fine but if Hunter and Wade are both hurt. That pretty much just leaves Okoro or rookie Tyson.

We do still have 2 open roster spots, so maybe we pick-up an insurance policy in one of those 2 slots. The other one will go to a big man, i assume.

[Wargreymon]

Wow they can definitely go toe to toe with the Celtics starting 5 now.

[durden_tyler]

Cavs, though they are the # seed, still agressive in the trade deadline. i like it, means they are really going all in (Niang for example is not a bad player and actually a key reserve thus far.)

[Bornstellar]

Thanks Atlanta. We appreciate you making your roster worse

[KOA]

Not really sure I get the fit for the Cavs. The Cavs record will suffer greatly if they think they can start Hunter next to Mitchell and Garland and maintain their same defensive identity.

[Shock Defeat]

Cavs were pretenders before but now they are contenders.

[jswede]

Not really sure I get the fit for the Cavs. The Cavs record will suffer greatly if they think they can start Hunter next to Mitchell and Garland and maintain their same defensive identity.

Compared to what?

[jswede]

Thanks Atlanta. We appreciate you making your roster worse

How did the Hawks lose all these first round picks in including this year?