The season has gotten a bit out of control for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Losing to a Utah Jazz team that had dropped their previous game by 55 points on Monday night was not a great look.
As it stands now, the team has more losses (19) through the first half of 2025-26, as they had during all of 2024-25 (18). Things have spiraled, the positivity has dropped, and the fans have been booing heavily.
With all of this in mind, it may be time to consider trade season. A potential deal between Cleveland and the Sacramento Kings could be an interesting angle for both teams to explore.
In this hypothetical move, the Cavaliers would send De’Andre Hunter , plus a 2026 and 2027 second-round pick to the Kings. In exchange, Malik Monk and Keon Ellis would come back to The Land.
Let’s talk about how this can move the needle for both squads.
De’Andre Hunter for Malik Monk and Keon Ellis
Keon Ellis has not gotten too much love in Sacramento this year. After some big-time play over the previous few campaigns, he has seen a huge downtick in his opportunities and playing time.
Linked below is a video from Kings Film Room about just how valuable Ellis and what he brings to the floor. His defensive intensity could be a major lift in Cleveland.
As for Malik Monk, his scoring ability is massive. He can create for himself and get to the cup, while also being a solid facilitator. He averaged five assists per game a season ago, and picked up eight the other night.
Monk could be a good sixth man in Cleveland. He would pair well with both of Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell independently, being ready to do what was asked of him.
As for De’Andre Hunter, the shooting just hasn’t been good. His 3PT percentage is down from 42% to 30. He has made just two field goals in the last two games. And whenever he seems to play well one day, the next doesn’t go so well.
With that in mind, a change of scenery could be nice for the veteran forward. Hunter would likely start on the Kings once they finalize how the roster will look, plus they get him for next season, too.
The trade is a win-win because it solves position issues for both sides. A spark plug and a defensive stopper come to Cleveland. A slightly bigger forward can finally pair with Keegan Murray in Sacramento.
A Trade That is a Real Win-Win
The only thing stopping the Cavs from doing this deal might be centered around their other pieces. If they opt to move one of Darius Garland or Jarrett Allen , perhaps they would be bringing in the positional replacement along with them.
Should that be the case, they might try to use De’Andre Hunter to fill those other voids. Otherwise, sending the forward to Sacramento could be better for both parties.
As for the Kings guards, Malik Monk and his inconsistent opportunities signal that he may need to see greener grass elsewhere. In his one playoff series in Sacramento, he averaged 19 ppg over the seven games. He’s built for it and would blend nicely.
Keon Ellis has delivered when called upon. His tenacity will pair well with guys like Jaylon Tyson and Evan Mobley to create an improved defensive group.
The Cavs parting with their draft picks would be a necessary thing that would help them right now.
We’ll see if the teams get on the phone together.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us .
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Potential Cavs/Kings Trade Sends Hunter to Sacramento appeared first on Heavy Sports .