Basketball Intelligence For 2/1/26

FEATURE OF THE DAY

Cavaliers score massive win as Kings make yet another puzzling deal
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports

This coming summer, the Kings will be at or above the first apron (depending on where their first-round pick lands) unless they either waive DeMar DeRozan or make other trades to shed salary. This feels less like an orderly rebuild than an ongoing game of throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping it randomly takes the form of a Picasso.

Grading the Cavs-Kings-Bulls three-team trade
Ricky O’Donnell, SBNation

I’ve always liked Ellis as a tough defender with low-volume three-point shooting ability, so that’s a nice addition for Cleveland’s stretch run, too. I have no idea why a hopeless Kings team wouldn’t play him much this season, but it was clear they weren’t going to resign him, so now the Cavs get an extended look at him before he hits free agency. Cleveland won’t miss Hunter: the Cavs have a -0.5 net-rating with Hunter on the floor this season, and a +9.5 net-rating with him off. He just couldn’t hit a shot this season, and his defense has never been that impactful. I like every bit of this deal for Cleveland.

Trade Breakdown
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot

Cavaliers got the steal of the trade deadline days before the final buzzer
Quinn Everts, Fansided

(Keon Ellis) is saved! Now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers after Saturday’s late-night trade, Ellis is the most obvious future fan favorite I’ve ever seen. His constant hustle and defensive production (combined with timely shot-making) will endear him to Cleveland quickly. To add him for De’Andre Hunter (who became a clear trade candidate after Jaylon Tyson’s breakout) and a second-rounder feels like a coup by this front office.

Ellis had a breakout year in 2024-25, averaging a career-high 8.3 points per game, shooting 43% from 3-point range, and nabbing 1.5 steals per game. He swung multiple games for the Kings with his effort, and I see no reason why that would change in Cleveland. In each of his three full seasons, Kings opponents have been worse on offense when Ellis is on the floor. Often, he cuts off the head of the snake with his defense.

This year, as the Kings conducted their Year of Immense Pain and Suffering, Ellis has seen his role on the team decrease considerably. Their loss!

Cavs address 2 critical weaknesses by acquiring Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis
Chris Fedor/Ethan Sands, cleveland.com

Inside the Cavs’ rapid reversal on De’Andre Hunter
Chris Fedor/Ethan Sands, cleveland.com

“The biggest part of this is that De’Andre just wasn’t playing well,” Fedor explained. “He was underachieving based on what they gave up to get him, based on what they expected coming into this year, and based on what they’re paying him. And they could not afford this, this version of De’Andre.”

What makes this situation particularly intriguing is how thoroughly the Cavaliers tried to make it work.

The organization attempted various strategies to unlock Hunter’s potential — different positions, starter versus bench roles, varied offensive schemes — but nothing produced consistent results. This left the front office in the uncomfortable position of admitting a significant mistake.

The trade represents more than just moving on from Hunter. It signals a pragmatic approach from the Cavaliers’ front office, who recognized their error and refused to let sunk costs dictate their future.

The Cavs addressed several key areas in their three-team deal
Jackson Flickinger, Fear The Sword

Kings make trade to acquire De’Andre Hunter from Cleveland Cavaliers
Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee

Sending Schroder and Ellis to Cleveland in exchange for Hunter alleviates the logjam in the backcourt while adding size, length and another versatile defender to the frontcourt alongside Keegan Murray. The move will free up minutes for rookie first-round draft pick Nique Clifford at shooting guard while opening the door for the Kings to convert undrafted rookie center Dylan Cardwell from a two-way contract to a standard NBA contract.

Who is the Kings’ newest addition? What to know about De’Andre Hunter trade
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee