The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder in a deal that sends De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings and also involves the Chicago Bulls, according to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The Kings received Hunter, a small forward, and are also sending Dario Saric and two future second-round picks to the Bulls.
Ellis and Schroder join a Cleveland roster that already includes Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, adding more depth to the Cavs’ backcourt as they look to make a deep playoff push. Ellis and Schroder can help stretch the floor and also hurt defenses with penetration. Both players are active defenders that give ballhandlers headaches.
The Cavaliers currently sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings at 29-21.
Three-team trade details
Sacramento Kings receive: De’Andre Hunter
Cleveland Cavaliers receive: Dennis Schroder, Keon Ellis
Chicago Bulls receive: Dario Saric, two future second-round picks
Winners and losers
This is a rare case where I don’t think there are any ‘losers’ in this deal. No one likes that idea, but it’s sort of true.
Well, not really. The loser is the Chicago Bulls. The winners are the ones who really wanted to make the trade − the Kings and Cavaliers.
The odd team is the third team involved to make it all work out − the Bulls. They did their Central Division foes a favor by being the bridge that allows the Cavs to add more depth in their backcourt, especially at point guard.
In return, the Bulls get Saric and two future second-round picks, but at this point it doesn’t seem like anything that will turn their 24-25 record into a playoff berth. Chicago waived Jevon Carter to make space for Saric, according to Charania.
The Cavaliers not only add to their backcourt but they get guys that aren’t afraid to get gritty. Ellis has a style of defensive play where, when at his best, he’s someone that makes opposing guards work for every shot. Schroder doesn’t back down from big moments, or conflict − consider his postgame dust-up with Los Angeles Lakers star Luka Doncic, which he received a three-game suspension for. That type of edge can actually provide a positive spark for a playoff-contending team.
Additionally, the Cavaliers created $50 million in salary and tax savings, according to reporting from ESPN’s Charania.
The Kings continue their quest for a silent rebuild and Hunter fits their timeline for that. Whether he’ll be in Sacramento long-term is up to him, as he’ll be an unrestricted free agent in July 2027, barring any contraction extensions from the Kings.
Hunter adds versatility at the wing position, length defensively and has the ability to be a threat offensively. If the Kings can keep him around long-term then this trade could prove to be even better than it appears.
One thing it shows for Sacramento is that it’s clearing the depth chart of guards. Interesting timing following the first-half performance of Kansas freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who had 18 points in the Jayhawks’ 90-82 win against BYU. Peterson left the game with a cramp. Potential 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick AJ Dybantsa had 17 points for BYU.
In the meantime, rookie Nique Clifford has been seen bringing the ball up the floor and playing more point guard as of recent. Sacramento still has Russell Westbrook for the rest of the season and he’s been a bright spot for the Kings.
One the underrated parts of this move is how it allows Sacramento to convert Dylan Cardwell’s two-way contract to a standard deal.
De’Andre Hunter age, contract details
Hunter is 28 years old. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in the Anthony Davis deal. He then was traded again to the Atlanta Hawks.
Hunter signed a four-year $90 million rookie contract extension with the Hawks on Oct. 17, 2022. He was traded to Cleveland last year near the trade deadline on Feb. 6, 2025 for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second round picks, and two pick swaps.
Hunter will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season.
Dennis Schroder age, contract details
Schroder, 32, was part of a sign-and-trade with the Detroit Pistons and sent to the Kings last offseason. He signed a three-year $44.43 million contract in July 2025. He becomes a free agent in July 2028.
Keon Ellis age, contract details
Ellis is a 26-year-old, fourth-year guard out of Alabama and Florida Southwestern, a junior college in Fort Myers, Florida. Ellis went undrafted in the 2022 NBA Draft, but signed a two-way deal with the Kings. He signed a second two-way with Sacramento in 2023 that was converted to a standard deal with a team option.
Sacramento exercised a $2.3 million option in June 2025.
Keon Ellis 2025-26 regular-season stats
Here are Ellis’ average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular season:
Games played: 43
Minutes: 17.6
Points: 5.6
Rebounds: 1.3
Assists: 0.6
Steals: 1.1
Blocks: 0.5
Field goal: 39.7%
3-point field goal: 36.8%
Free throw: 62.5%
Keon Ellis career stats
Here are Ellis’ average statistics so far though his four-year NBA career:
Games played: 196
Minutes: 19.2
Points: 6.3
Rebounds: 2.0
Assists: 1.2
Steals: 1.1
Blocks: 0.6
Field goal: 46%
3-point field goal: 41.6%
Free throw: 76.9%
Dennis Schroder 2025-26 regular-season stats
Here are Schroder’s average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.
Games played: 40
Minutes: 19.2
Points: 12.8
Rebounds: 3.1
Assists: 5.3
Steals: 0.8
Blocks: 0.2
Field goal: 40.8%
3-point field goal: 34.3%
Free throw: 82%
Dennis Schroder career stats
Here are Schroder’s career average statistics so far though his 12-year NBA career:
Games played: 882
Minutes: 27.3
Points: 13.9
Rebounds: 2.9
Assists: 4.9
Steals: 0.8
Blocks: 0.1
Field goal: 43.1%
3-point field goal: 34.2%
Free throw: 83.5%
De’Andre Hunter 2025-26 regular-season stats
Here are Hunter’s average statistics so far though the 2025-26 regular-season.
Games played: 43
Minutes: 26.2
Points: 14.0
Rebounds: 4.2
Assists: 2.1
Steals: 0.7
Blocks: 0.1
Field goal: 42.3%
3-point field goal: 30.8%
Free throw: 86.9%
De’Andre Hunter career stats
Here are Hunter’s career average statistics so far though his seven-year NBA tenure.
Games played: 370
Minutes: 29.6
Points: 14.7
Rebounds: 4.1
Assists: 1.6
Steals: 0.7
Blocks: 0.3
Field goal: 44.8%
3-point field goal: 36.5%
Free throw: 82.5%
