Cavs Trade Grades: De’Andre Hunter is a worthwhile gamble

The Cavs take a shot at filling their biggest need

The Cleveland Cavaliers have completed a deal to acquire De’Andre Hunter.

Let’s break down what the deal means for Cleveland:

Cavs get their wing

The Cavs have had one box unchecked on their roster for years. Their prolonged need for a small forward has made a move like this almost inevitable. Hunter provides them with wing insurance for the first time since #23 left for LA. And while he won’t even come close to filling those shoes — Hunter can fill the biggest gap of Cleveland’s core-four era.

Hunter is a 6’8” forward with a 7’2” wingspan. He’s always fit the hypothetical mold of an athletic 3-and-D wing but Hunter has only recently begun tapping into that potential. He’s broken out in his sixth NBA season as the leader of Atlanta’s second unit, averaging a career-high 19 points on 39.3% shooting from the three-point line.

There’s reason to be concerned about Hunter’s previous seasons. Is his recent success an outlier? Or has he turned a corner offensively? While that question might take some time to answer — one of the more pressing concerns is Hunter’s defensive viability.

It’s no secret the Hawks have struggled on defense during Trae Young’s tenure. Atlanta has thrown the kitchen sink at the issue but nothing has slowed the never-ending flood that is the Hawks’ point-of-attack defense. The Hawks are 17th in defensive rating this season and get even worse when Hunter is on the floor (5 points worse per 100 possessions).

Individual defense is tough to judge on a team with as many holes as the Hawks. Hunter’s physical tools lead me to believe he can be an impactful team defender if he’s placed in the correct context. I can’t imagine a better scenario for him to prove this than with the Cavaliers — defending alongside Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. If there’s any untapped defensive prowess, this is the location for Hunter to realize it.

One final key for Hunter will be his rebounding. The Cavaliers haven’t had much help on the glass outside of Mobley and Allen. Hunter’s size makes you believe he can address this. However, he hasn’t placed above the 45th percentile in defensive rebounding percentage at any point in his career. Is this another result of his placement on the Hawks? Perhaps he’ll be more motivated to exert himself on a contender versus a perpetual Play-In squad.

Overall, the Cavs secure themselves the prototypical wing they have been missing. Hunter has seemingly discovered something on offense and he could be a change of scenery away from doing the same thing on defense. Cleveland gives him the perfect environment to thrive as a catch-and-shoot threat who defends multiple positions.

Acquisition Grade: B+

Cavs lose some depth

Swapping two players for one means the Cavaliers can’t go 10-11 deep on any given night. They are sacrificing some of their wealth to build a stronger 8-man rotation. This makes more sense for the playoffs but could bite them if injuries arise.

Losing LeVert is the biggest blow. He’s been Cleveland’s Sixth Man throughout the Donovan Mitchell era — and at times, fit that role to near perfection. LeVert’s grown as an off-ball player, “wing” defender and three-point shooter. Still, the remnants of who LeVert used to be (on-ball creator) often got in the way of his desired role in Cleveland. This pairing had run its course, in my opinion, and this was the correct time for a swap.

As for Niang, the Cavaliers added him for his three-point shooting. While he’s succeeded in stretching the floor and bringing good vibes to the locker room, Niang’s vulnerability on defense has made him unplayable in big games. His repeat blunders against the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder were already enough reason to keep him out of a playoff rotation — even if he was still on the roster. Getting rid of him altogether is a better outcome.

Essentially, the Cavs only lose one player who would have been in their playoff rotation to gain a potential starter. The inclusion of multiple second-rounders and pick swaps is just the cost of doing business and staying under the luxury tax. Late picks don’t mean much for a team that has its sights on a championship.

Cost Grade: A+

Cavs duck the tax

To top it off, this move brings the Cavaliers under the luxury tax. They’ve managed to avoid any cap restrictions (for now) and move off LeVert’s expiring contract for Hunter, who has two full seasons under contract following this one.

Locking in the rotation for the foreseeable future brings peace of mind to this team. We’ve seen how much success continuity can bring. Now, the Cavs have tripled down on this in the hopes that Hunter can be their long-term fit at the wing.

The only remaining question is who the Cavaliers bring to fill their open roster spot. They’ll have to convert a two-way contract or scour the buy-out market to accomplish this goal. Brooklyn Net’s forward Ben Simmons has been linked to the team in rumors. But it’s possible the Cavs keep this in-house and sign Emoni Bates, JT Thor or Luke Travers to a standard contract for the lowest cost.

Keep an eye on how the Cavaliers choose to fill their final roster spots. It will be the last factor of this trade.

Financial Grade: A+

Conclusion

The Cavs roll the dice on getting the player they have needed for years. They do it all while ensuring long-term continuity, staying under the tax and protecting their trade chip with the highest upside in Jaylon Tyson.

While Hunter has a few questions to answer before being considered the “perfect” fit — I can’t see many complaints about the deal Koby Altman just made. This is a promising move that could pay dividends moving forward.

Overall Grade: A