The De’Andre Hunter trade buzz comes with a clutch twist

Probably the most disappointing team in the NBA this year was Cleveland Cavalierswho are currently 22-19 after a baffling home loss to the Utah Jazz, who were blasted by the Charlotte Hornets by 55 points two nights earlier. The Cavs entered this year with legitimate NBA Finals aspirations after their historic 2024-25 season, but now it looks like they’ll have to fight just to get out of the playoffs.

One of the many Cavs that disappointed this year is De’Andre Hunterwho the team acquired from the Atlanta Hawks at last year’s trade deadline. Could Hunter be on the move before this season’s trade deadline if Cleveland tries to retool the roster for a second-half resume?

NBA insider Matt Moore wrote it on his Hardwood Parokism Substack he heard on the Cavs looking at Hunter’s deals, and also noted interest from Clutch Sports in potentially bringing a client to Cleveland. Ironically, one intriguing scenario could be trading Hunter to the Hornets for Kluch client Myles Bridges, but there’s no evidence that anything like that has actually been discussed.

Moreover, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints he recently reported that “While there was some speculation around the offseason that the Cavs might explore the market for De’Andre Hunter, that no longer seems like a realistic scenario. So, for now, it doesn’t look like anything is brewing on the Hunter trade front.”

Overall, the Cavs have largely the same team that nearly set the franchise record for wins a season ago and secured the top seed in the East, but injuries, poor performance and a tendency to concede to the competition have all kept them mired in mediocrity in the lowly Eastern Conference. Ty Jerome’s exit hurt, while the Isaac Okoro-Lonzo Ball trade backfired in a big way.

The Cavs next take the floor on Wednesday night on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Editor’s note: An initial version of this story based on a report by Matt Moore said De’Andre Hunter is a client of Klutch and the agency is interested in sending him to the Los Angeles Lakers or Charlotte Hornets. However, Hunter is represented by Wasserman. Moore issued a correction to his original report, and corrections are needed to this ClutchPoints story. ClutchPoints regrets the errors.