De’Andre Hunter describes Cleveland’s experience after the trade to the Kings

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, De’Andre Hunter opened up about his experience with the Cleveland Cavaliers after Sacramento Kings traded for him a few days ago.

“It was great,” Hunter told SacTown Sports in scrum after the first training session with his new team. “I enjoyed my time. I think it was a little bit, but I definitely enjoyed it. It’s a job. You just have to roll with the punches.”

In 70 games with Cleveland, Hunter averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists in just under 26 minutes a night. He shot 44.5% from the floor with a 35.2% clip from long range.

Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gone the way both sides intended when the Cavs traded for the 28-year-old forward this time a year ago. It looked like Hunter would become a key cog right away, nailing every 3-pointer in sight, breaking opponents off the dribble and covering a ton of space with his length on defense.

After playing in the Miami Heat series, Hunter broke his thumb against the Indiana Pacers after a foul by Benedict Maturin; he wasn’t himself even when he was playing through it. This summer, the Cavs were adamant that Hunter would be the final piece of the starting five puzzle. His size, offensive ability and physicality were thought to complement the Core Four, and Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson was adamant about getting to know him better in the offseason.

After training camp like a star, Hunter injured his knee in the preseason finale against the Detroit Pistons and was behind the 8-ball. He missed the first two games of the season, then played in 21 of the next 23 contests as the Cavs’ starter. After a rough start to December, Atkinson and Hunter jointly decided it was best for him to come off the bench.

While the role adjustment paid off at first, Hunter just never found his groove and his minutes dropped. In addition to the drop in shooting, his turnovers and decision-making were unrecognizable. Atkinson felt it was because he was playing different lineups with younger players he didn’t share the floor with last year. The appearance of Jaylon Tyson and Nae’Kwan Tomlin likely had a hand in changing Hunter’s role as well.

“I was hurt,” Tyson said of learning of the trade. “I was super close with Dre. He’s like a brother to me now; I’ve been with him for almost a year. He’s a great player. I’m excited for him and his new journey, and I hope everything goes well.”

The Cavs know Hunter is better than what he’s shown, and Atkinson even admitted it was circumstantial.

“That’s my old lady. I love her,” Cleveland All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell said Sunday. “We all wish him the best, and he’s been a hell of a player for us, a hell of a player in general. Sometimes things happen. This is a job. He’s a professional. He understands that. He works his ass off. I have no doubt he’ll continue to do that.”

“For our part, we’re in business,” Jarrett Allen added. “But when you make these personal connections, it’s always hard to see someone you play with even for a year; that’s a long time in the NBA. It’s hard to see him go.”

Despite the Kings’ rough nine-point debut against the Memphis Grizzlies, Hunter feels good about entering the Sacramento situation with good energy. With a clean slate, does he feel he has something to prove?

“I wouldn’t say to that extent, but I have my expectations,” Hunter said. “I feel like my own expectations are higher than what anyone else expects of me, so I just try to hold myself to a standard and I’m usually good at that.”