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The Cleveland Cavaliers have been playing their best basketball of the season, but are reportedly still looking to upgrade their roster ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline. Acquiring De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks was the big move they made at the deadline last year. Hunter could be on the move again this winter.
Finding a third team could be the holdup. The Cavs are in the second apron. That means that they can’t bring in more money in a trade. The Lakers are just below the first apron but are capped from exceeding it in a trade like this.
Since Hunter — with his unlikely contract bonuses — makes slightly more than Hachimura and Knecht combined, a trade involving just those players is illegal for the Lakers to make. Los Angeles would need to drop an additional player making just over $1.3 million to a third team. The second apron keeps the Cavs from taking that additional player or adding another player of their own to the trade to balance things out.
The Cavs could shave a little over $20 million off of next season’s cap sheet with a deal like this. Hachimura is on an expiring contract and Knecht is set to make just $4.2 million next season. Meanwhile, Hunter is owed a little over $24 million next season in the last year of his contract.
On the season, Hunter is averaging 13.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 42 games.
Hachimura is averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.9 assists on .500/.433/.756 shooting splits. Knecht has averaged 4.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists on .442/.323/.688 shooting splits in his second season in the league.