2025-26 Team Developments: Trades / Free Agents / News / Rumors / Ideas

Hunters defensive metrics are way worse then Rui's for what's it worth. And he's definitely not shown any growth like Rui has recently

Such a s*** move IMO - organization looks like crap as well because it's been win win with Rui and the Lakers. yes he's flawed player but he's worked hard and been good player and teammate

 

I used to the think the trade deadline was cool. Looked forward to tidbits of news everyday. Now? I know the Lakers are used for clickbait, and it's almost not worth investing any emotional energy into it until it passes. And even then, we might do something like rescind a trade that we had high hopes for.

This i know... Rob made some savvy moves this offseason getting buyout guys for nothing. He's not going to give away talent of ours easily. Heck, he got Luke for a broken down AD, max, and change right?

I'm curious to see if there is something out there. I admit I'm interested in Giannis, but have a hard time believing that is possible. a team with Bron, Giannis, and Luka all on it? that's crazy.

 

And this is why I think there has to be more to this trade than just Hunter for Rui/Dalton. I'm not much of a Pelinka fan, but one thing he consistently has not done is make moves just for the sake of making moves. The MO has been to hold out for a perfect trade rather than make a bad one.

 

Cavs are desperate to reduce luxury tax costs this season, and to get under the second apron next season, while still competing this season. From their perspective, swapping Hunter for Rui helps accomplish all of those things. They will have to include some draft capital in order to get the Lakers to comply. A third team would also be needed. This would be a good opportunity for Rob to obtain some draft capital without a huge drop off from Rui to Hunter. Truth is, Hunter is better than a lot of 25 million dollar range free agents this summer anyway. Lakers don't really want to extend Rui, and they want to get rid of Knecht.

Lakers get: Hunter, Highsmith, 2031 Cavs 1st (top-13 protected)

Nets get: Klieber, Knecht, 2032 Lakers 2nd, 2030 Lakers swap, 2028 Cavs 2nd

Cavs get: Rui, 2029 Nets 2nd

This might be the crux of the trade.

 

I have to believe there's more to any deal for Hunter. A swap of him for Rui just makes no sense.

 

Yeah it's more about increasing optionality then Hunter the player. It does make sense.

 

Agreed.

I'm immediately brought back to my thoughts on who exactly is scouting for us now.

 

I don't see how it increases options.

 

yeah, the "fire rob" crowd is mad because he doesn't do things like this, which is what would make me join the "fire rob" crowd. like, immediately. in fact, my concerns about rob being on the hot seat is that a trade like this would happen.

i'll need to see it to believe he's fully lost his mind, though.

great that rui gets to be in his feelings during the last bit of our road trip, though. thanks for that, cavs beat writer.

 

I can't imagine Rob does this.

 

Well, the report doesn't mention draft capital coming from the Cavs, so I understand why you would feel that way. Lets assume the Lakers don't get draft capital:

• Hunter's 25 million expiring contract is more tradable next season than Rui on a multi-year contract starting at around 16 million (a little more than the full-MLE).
• If Hunter is not traded, his expiring deal could result in a potential 63 million in cap room in the Summer of 2027. Free agent crop will be significantly better that Summer then this Summer.
• The ball doesn't stick with Hunter as much as it does with Rui.

But Lakers would likely get some draft capital in what is essentially a salary dump by the Cavs. This is the Mark Walter type move we have been talking about.

 

I'll see your Chaz the Bartender and Raise ..... Magic Johnson

 

It's that time of the year where we judge the FO based on trades that never happened

I'll hold my thoughts to when a trade is communicated.

Regarding the rumor, I'd do it for a pick.
If we don't trade Rui, we most likely re-sign him to a bloated short deal. So basically Hunter's contract next year. This way we would get a pick

 

i've been fine with this year being transitional (while many fans have definitely not, which i understand), but you can't have two of them with luka in his prime.

and there's no guarantee the 2027 FA class will be any good. if recent history is a guide, all FA classes will be devoid of real high end talent forever.

if we just view hunter as an expiring for next year, then we can pick those up with cap space in the summer, along with draft capital, as i mentioned earlier. i don't see the upside to a move like this unless it's part of a larger deal that nets a long-term piece (like an ellis).

like if the cavs were really throwing in a first, any way to route that to denver for watson in a way that gets them below the tax line this year? they probably don't bite, but that's the kind of thing i could understand.

 

I don’t know that we can count on his contract being more movable. We haven’t had a ton of luck moving expiring contracts and shooters tend to get worse with us not better. He already can’t shoot so I’m not confident he will be any more in demand next year than Rui is now.

I can already see the articles saying we need to attach a first if we want to get off of his contract.

 

Yeah. I’m with you here.

I’d need to see a substantial secondary aspect of this to feel good about it.

 

His contract would be expiring though.

 

there was a rumor the cavs were trying to get ellis, and i could see them doing it...for us. for them, it doesn't make sense, imo--they're in cap hell, and he's due for a substantial raise. his bird rights will not help you with your second apron situation.

 

we have expirings now, and the apparent return is...a hunter-level player (at the expense of someone currently outplaying hunter!).