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

[Chokic]

Garland
Mitchell
Hunter
Mobley
Allen

DeAndre Hunter was a total win now move.

Cavs starting 5 is legit. Such a deep team also as others have stated. They're my favorites to get to the finals from the east.

[tsherkin]

They certainly have an absolute ton of shooting.

[threethehardway]

It's so obvious that nobody on RealGM watches basketball when people think the DeAndre Hunter is a good player and the Cavs made off with a heist. Lol, someone actually thought DeAndre started.

DeAndre Hunter is a terrible player that is having a decent year by coming off the bench.

He's never healthy and has shot knees. This is the first year he isn't a pinch-post iso ballstopper. He isn't a good defender, on-ball or off-ball. He isn't opportunistic and he can't guard guards or big wings. His feet can't move fast enough for guards, and he doesn't use his strength and length against big wings. He isn't a good rebounder. He's low energy and low activity. He's 6'8 for nothing.

DeAndre Hunter was featured on the bench as the 6th man so he can be traded because he's deadweight. The Hawks love to hang on to players until they are worthless, like they did with John Collins, Kevin Huerter and now Capella. He had full range to put points and do nothing else because scoring is the only thing he is interested in and capable of doing.

[kg01]

It's so obvious that nobody on RealGM watches basketball when people think the DeAndre Hunter is a good player and the Cavs made off with a heist. Lol, someone actually thought DeAndre started.

DeAndre Hunter is a terrible player that is having a decent year by coming off the bench.

He's never healthy and has shot knees. This is the first year he isn't a pinch-post iso ballstopper. He isn't a good defender, on-ball or off-ball. He isn't opportunistic and he can't guard guards or big wings. His feet can't move fast enough for guards, and he doesn't his strength and length against big wings. He isn't a good rebounder. He's low energy and low activity. He's 6'8 for nothing.

DeAndre Hunter was featured on the bench as the 6th man so he can be traded because he's deadweight. The Hawks love to hang on to players until they are worthless, like they did with John Collins, Kevin Huerter and now Capella. He had full range to put points and do nothing else because scoring is the only thing he is interested in and capable of doing.

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

[threethehardway]

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

Trae Young for the past 2 years has put in more effort and toughness into his defense than DeAndre Hunter his whole career. Trae Young is 6'1 160 pounds and averaged one less rebound than Deandre Hunter for his entire career. DeAndre Hunter is averages 3.9 rebounds, Trae Young averages 3.2. Trae Young averages a steal a game. DeAndre Hunter averages .7.

DeAndre Hunter just has a picturesque defensive stance, he doesn't do anything on defense. He plays 4th quarter Kobe defense when isolated, he gets real low, looks like he is trying really hard. He has a reputation of being a good defender from college days.

DeAndre Hunter has gotten a pass from NBA fans because NBA fans irrationally dislike Trae Young and when their ignorant behinds discuss the Hawks:

"Why the Hawks are so bad on defense, they have DeAndre Hunter and Clint Capella? It must be Trae."

When neither of them are above average defenders.

It's like when they call Trae a ball hog and say, "Why Trae is shooting 30 foot shots when they have Bogi and Kevin Huerter? It must be Trae."

DeAndre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Clint Capella and John Collins should've been packaged and traded for a star wing after the Hawks went to the ECF.

None of them were that good. They are average players that were carried on offense and played above average defense when they got hot.

The truth of the matter is, the Hawks organization, like many organizations in the NBA, don't care about winning and only want to put butts in seats so they can watch their team valuation go up. The Hawks won't make reasonable, sound, basketball decisions until they get a new ownership group.

Until then, Hawks fans will overrate their subpar, middling to average players like DeAndre Hunter out of hope.

[kg01]

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

Trae Young for the past 2 years has put in more effort and toughness into his defense than DeAndre Hunter his whole career. Trae Young is 6'1 160 pounds and averaged one less rebound than Deandre Hunter for his entire career. DeAndre Hunter is averages 3.9 rebounds, Trae Young averages 3.2. Trae Young averages a steal a game. DeAndre Hunter averages .7.

DeAndre Hunter just has a picturesque defensive stance, he doesn't do anything on defense. He plays 4th quarter Kobe defense when isolated, he gets real low, looks like he is trying really hard. He has a reputation of being a good defender from college days.

DeAndre Hunter has gotten a pass from NBA fans because NBA fans irrationally dislike Trae Young and when their ignorant behinds discuss the Hawks:

"Why the Hawks are so bad on defense, they have DeAndre Hunter and Clint Capella? It must be Trae."

When neither of them are above average defenders.

It's like when they call Trae a ball hog and say, "Why Trae is shooting 30 foot shots when they have Bogi and Kevin Huerter? It must be Trae."

DeAndre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Clint Capella and John Collins should've been packaged and traded for a star wing after the Hawks went to the ECF.

None of them were that good. They are average players that were carried on offense and played above average defense when they got hot.

The truth of the matter is, the Hawks organization, like many organizations in the NBA, don't care about winning and only want to put butts in seats so they can watch their team valuation go up. The Hawks won't make reasonable, sound, basketball decisions until they get an ownership group.

Until then, Hawks fans will overrate their subpar, middling to average players like DeAndre Hunter out of hope.

It's all truth. Hawks (cl)ownership is content with letting Trae take all the slings and arrows when the facts are that they're not actually trying to win. If they win, it's happenstance. As long as Trae keeps the seats filled, they're fine with being in the middle. Anything more is gravy.

I wish folks would recognize that instead of the weird and constant Trae bashing when things don't go well.

The Hawks (cl)owners are actually Laker fans. The franchise is just an investment property for them and a real-life game of 2k myGM for their son.

[DowJones]

It's so obvious that nobody on RealGM watches basketball when people think the DeAndre Hunter is a good player and the Cavs made off with a heist. Lol, someone actually thought DeAndre started.

DeAndre Hunter is a terrible player that is having a decent year by coming off the bench.

He's never healthy and has shot knees. This is the first year he isn't a pinch-post iso ballstopper. He isn't a good defender, on-ball or off-ball. He isn't opportunistic and he can't guard guards or big wings. His feet can't move fast enough for guards, and he doesn't his strength and length against big wings. He isn't a good rebounder. He's low energy and low activity. He's 6'8 for nothing.

DeAndre Hunter was featured on the bench as the 6th man so he can be traded because he's deadweight. The Hawks love to hang on to players until they are worthless, like they did with John Collins, Kevin Huerter and now Capella. He had full range to put points and do nothing else because scoring is the only thing he is interested in and capable of doing.

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

I think it's a fair point. That said, whether or not Hunter starts isn't particularly important. The Cavs could start Strus or Wade at the 3 when he returns. What matters more is that Hunter will get significant playing time. The Cavs won't ask him to do more than he did in Atlanta. Currently, Hunter averages 29 minutes per game, while the Cavs’ top minutes leaders are Mitchell at 31, Garland and Mobley at 30, and Allen at 29. In fact, I think Hunter's minutes will likely decrease in Cleveland, even if he starts. I expect the Cavs to keep him in the 25-28 MPG range, similar to the playing time of Strus, Niang, Wade, and LeVert, who play around 21-25 MPG.

[JonFromVA]

Can a hawks fan let me know how his defense has been. Especially against brown,Tatum.

Could be the last piece to the puzzle. I'm not happy if I'm a Boston fan. How has Hunter played historically against Brown/Tatum?

He's a defensive upgrade on Niang for sure, but has never given Tatum much trouble.

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I am concerned about his defense, but idk if his raw per game stats really do anything for me. Based on how the Celts play, I assume they hunted Trae most of the time so Hunter was not his primary defender.

Nobody succeeds on defense 100% of the time, so it's easy to cherry pick clips where Hunter (or anyone else) looked bad, but this has been making the rounds too:

*For the wondering minds*
JAYSON TATUM’s notable stats over the last two seasons when guarded by De’Andre Hunter:
• 46% FG percentage/37% three point percentage - 41% & 21% when guarded by Hunter.
• 60% true shooting percentage - 51% when guarded by Hunter.
• 2.3 turnovers per game is 3.2 turnovers in games guarded by Hunter.
————————————
JAYLEN BROWN’s notable stats over the last two seasons when guarded by De’Andre Hunter:
• 49% field goal & 36% from three - 48% field goal & 16% from three when guarded by Hunter.
• 57% true shooting percentage - 52% when guarded by Hunter.
• 2.1 turnovers per game - 3.2 TOV when guarded by Hunter.
Some of these numbers seem negligible, but when we are in close games against this team, these declines can be a huge difference maker.

I watched every shot Tatum and Brown took .vs. the Hawks in their last game and while it was clear Hunter was primarily guarding Brown, there were very few attempts made by Brown (or Tatum) against Hunter.

But this last shot is pretty instructional I think of Brown trying to drive on Hunter to get the lead back for the C's at the end:

https://www.nba.com/stats/events?CFID=&CFPARAMS=&ContextMeasure=FGA&EndPeriod=0&EndRange=31800&GameID=0022400587&PlayerID=1627759&RangeType=0&Season=2024-25&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&StartPeriod=0&StartRange=0&TeamID=1610612738&flag=3&sct=plot&section=game

Also need to keep in mind even with the emergence of Dyson Daniels and Jalen Johnson and the amazing season by Hunter the Hawks are still just 15th ranked on defense. Ultimately it's all about the team defense and having the ability to be in the right place at the right time contesting shots.

[DowJones]

Mitchell
Strus
Hunter
Wade
Mobley

I’m curious if a lineup like this will get late-game run against Boston. Boston tends to attack Garland relentlessly when he’s on the court. The lineup above has fewer defensive weaknesses for them to exploit. Offensively, you can put the ball in Mitchell’s hands with four other shooters around him.

[kg01]

It's so obvious that nobody on RealGM watches basketball when people think the DeAndre Hunter is a good player and the Cavs made off with a heist. Lol, someone actually thought DeAndre started.

DeAndre Hunter is a terrible player that is having a decent year by coming off the bench.

He's never healthy and has shot knees. This is the first year he isn't a pinch-post iso ballstopper. He isn't a good defender, on-ball or off-ball. He isn't opportunistic and he can't guard guards or big wings. His feet can't move fast enough for guards, and he doesn't his strength and length against big wings. He isn't a good rebounder. He's low energy and low activity. He's 6'8 for nothing.

DeAndre Hunter was featured on the bench as the 6th man so he can be traded because he's deadweight. The Hawks love to hang on to players until they are worthless, like they did with John Collins, Kevin Huerter and now Capella. He had full range to put points and do nothing else because scoring is the only thing he is interested in and capable of doing.

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

I think it's a fair point. That said, whether or not Hunter starts isn't particularly important. The Cavs could start Strus or Wade at the 3 when he returns. What matters more is that Hunter will get significant playing time. The Cavs won't ask him to do more than he did in Atlanta. Currently, Hunter averages 29 minutes per game, while the Cavs’ top minutes leaders are Mitchell at 31, Garland and Mobley at 30, and Allen at 29. In fact, I think Hunter's minutes will likely decrease in Cleveland, even if he starts. I expect the Cavs to keep him in the 25-28 MPG range, similar to the playing time of Strus, Niang, Wade, and LeVert, who play around 21-25 MPG.

Nah, it's not about the minutes. It's about the role. Make him a scorer and he'll be fine. Look for much else, he'll struggle.

That seemed easier to do with him coming off the bench.

[JujitsuFlip]

Mitchell
Strus
Hunter
Wade
Mobley

I’m curious if a lineup like this will get late-game run against Boston. Boston tends to attack Garland relentlessly when he’s on the court. The lineup above has fewer defensive weaknesses for them to exploit. Offensively, you can put the ball in Mitchell’s hands with four other shooters around him.

I've been advocating for a lineup like this since Mitchell arrived in September of 2022. We just never had the pieces to do it, until now.

If Hunter and Wade can stay healthy though, remains to be seen.

You could even swap in Ty Jerome for Strus, if teams were trying to trap Spida. Ty is a good secondary ball handler, shoots it 43% from three, and is 2nd on the team in steals per game.

[Pantsman]

Mitchell
Strus
Hunter
Wade
Mobley

I’m curious if a lineup like this will get late-game run against Boston. Boston tends to attack Garland relentlessly when he’s on the court. The lineup above has fewer defensive weaknesses for them to exploit. Offensively, you can put the ball in Mitchell’s hands with four other shooters around him.

I think you can interchange DG and Mitchell. DG gets attacked because they’re playing 2 small guards and he’s the smallest one. But I think he’d be fine as the only guard out there.

[JonFromVA]

Mitchell
Strus
Hunter
Wade
Mobley

I’m curious if a lineup like this will get late-game run against Boston. Boston tends to attack Garland relentlessly when he’s on the court. The lineup above has fewer defensive weaknesses for them to exploit. Offensively, you can put the ball in Mitchell’s hands with four other shooters around him.

We could go bigger with Allen instead of Strus too, but IMO Garland is too important to bench for defense. It's a lot harder to defend two top notch ball handlers / scorers.

Brown and Tatum trying to score 2pt ISO's against Garland isn't the end of the world if our offense is clicking, but there are still options like not switching the P&R's so easily or going to zone. And still having Hunter as the help defender at times is still presumably a benefit.

[chrismikayla]

Ooo-weee there's a lot of truth here. The bit about the Hawks hanging onto players too long is spot on. It's our specialty. Did it with Bogi, some could argue.

I'll push back a little and say Hunter isn't absolutely terrible defensively. He's a body that gets in the way. Some nights he plays quite well on that end. That's why I didn't want to trade him. We don't have anyone else as a 'big forward' that can do even that bit.

I suspect CLE will eventually learn they shouldn't start him.

Trae Young for the past 2 years has put in more effort and toughness into his defense than DeAndre Hunter his whole career. Trae Young is 6'1 160 pounds and averaged one less rebound than Deandre Hunter for his entire career. DeAndre Hunter is averages 3.9 rebounds, Trae Young averages 3.2. Trae Young averages a steal a game. DeAndre Hunter averages .7.

DeAndre Hunter just has a picturesque defensive stance, he doesn't do anything on defense. He plays 4th quarter Kobe defense when isolated, he gets real low, looks like he is trying really hard. He has a reputation of being a good defender from college days.

DeAndre Hunter has gotten a pass from NBA fans because NBA fans irrationally dislike Trae Young and when their ignorant behinds discuss the Hawks:

Oh man, the truth hurts sometimes but as someone that lives in Atlanta this is spot on. The Hawks ownership is only concerned about using Trae to put butts in seats and avoid going into the luxury tax. I want Ressler and his nepo son away from this team. Travis Schlenk could at least evaluate talent and make those tough decisions.

"Why the Hawks are so bad on defense, they have DeAndre Hunter and Clint Capella? It must be Trae."

When neither of them are above average defenders.

It's like when they call Trae a ball hog and say, "Why Trae is shooting 30 foot shots when they have Bogi and Kevin Huerter? It must be Trae."

DeAndre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Clint Capella and John Collins should've been packaged and traded for a star wing after the Hawks went to the ECF.

None of them were that good. They are average players that were carried on offense and played above average defense when they got hot.

The truth of the matter is, the Hawks organization, like many organizations in the NBA, don't care about winning and only want to put butts in seats so they can watch their team valuation go up. The Hawks won't make reasonable, sound, basketball decisions until they get a new ownership group.

Until then, Hawks fans will overrate their subpar, middling to average players like DeAndre Hunter out of hope.

[JujitsuFlip]

Guys, i am really liking this Hunter acquisition so far.

[magee]

It's because the Knicks are slow to rotate and he was knocking down the same looks he had in Atlanta. He's still better coming off the bench for them.

[jeeph]

Mitchell
Strus
Hunter
Wade
Mobley

I’m curious if a lineup like this will get late-game run against Boston. Boston tends to attack Garland relentlessly when he’s on the court. The lineup above has fewer defensive weaknesses for them to exploit. Offensively, you can put the ball in Mitchell’s hands with four other shooters around him.

We could go bigger with Allen instead of Strus too, but IMO Garland is too important to bench for defense. It's a lot harder to defend two top notch ball handlers / scorers.

Brown and Tatum trying to score 2pt ISO's against Garland isn't the end of the world if our offense is clicking, but there are still options like not switching the P&R's so easily or going to zone. And still having Hunter as the help defender at times is still presumably a benefit.

I would think that Tatum/Brown mid-range iso's would be less efficient than the normal Boston offense. So the eye effect of the mismatch exploitation might differ from the result. It's a good bail-out shot if their offensive plays stall and the shot clock is running out though.

[JujitsuFlip]

32 tonight for the new Cav.

[Liam_Gallagher]

Wait until Dean Wade returns.

[jswede]

32 tonight for the new Cav.

He’s shooting 52% from 2 and 60% from 3 (43 attempts) in 8 games so far. 73% TS.