Basketball Intelligence For two/1/26 -

FEATURE OF THE DAY

Cavaliers rating large win as Kings make yet one more puzzling deal
Sam Quinn, CBS Sports activities

This coming summer time, the Kings shall be at or above the primary apron (relying on the place their first-round decide lands) except they both waive DeMar DeRozan or make different trades to shed wage. This feels much less like an orderly rebuild than an ongoing sport of throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping it randomly takes the type of a Picasso.

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

I’ve at all times favored Ellis as a tricky defender with low-volume three-point taking pictures capability, in order that’s a pleasant addition for Cleveland’s stretch run, too. I don’t know why a hopeless Kings group wouldn’t play him a lot this season, but it surely was clear they weren’t going to resign him, so now the Cavs get an prolonged take a look at him earlier than he hits free company. Cleveland gained’t miss Hunter: the Cavs have a -0.5 net-rating with Hunter on the ground this season, and a +9.5 net-rating with him off. He simply couldn’t hit a shot this season, and his protection has by no means been that impactful. I like each little bit of this deal for Cleveland.

Commerce Breakdown
Danny Cunningham, The Inside Shot

Cavaliers obtained the steal of the commerce deadline days earlier than the ultimate buzzer
Quinn Everts, Fansided

(Keon Ellis) is saved! Now a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers after Saturday’s late-night commerce, Ellis is the obvious future fan favourite I’ve ever seen. His fixed hustle and defensive manufacturing (mixed with well timed shot-making) will endear him to Cleveland rapidly. So as to add him for De’Andre Hunter (who turned a transparent commerce candidate after Jaylon Tyson’s breakout) and a second-rounder seems like a coup by this entrance workplace.

Ellis had a breakout yr in 2024-25, averaging a career-high 8.3 factors per sport, taking pictures 43% from 3-point vary, and nabbing 1.5 steals per sport. He swung a number of video games for the Kings together with his effort, and I see no motive why that might change in Cleveland. In every of his three full seasons, Kings opponents have been worse on offense when Ellis is on the ground. Typically, he cuts off the top of the snake together with his protection.

This yr, because the Kings performed their Yr of Immense Ache and Struggling, Ellis has seen his function on the group lower significantly. Their loss!

Cavs tackle 2 crucial weaknesses by buying Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis
Chris Fedor/Ethan Sands, cleveland.com

Contained in the Cavs’ speedy reversal on De’Andre Hunter
Chris Fedor/Ethan Sands, cleveland.com

“The largest a part of that is that De’Andre simply wasn’t enjoying effectively,” Fedor defined. “He was underachieving primarily based on what they gave as much as get him, primarily based on what they anticipated coming into this yr, and primarily based on what they’re paying him. And so they couldn’t afford this, this model of De’Andre.”

What makes this example significantly intriguing is how completely the Cavaliers tried to make it work.

The group tried numerous methods to unlock Hunter’s potential — totally different positions, starter versus bench roles, different offensive schemes — however nothing produced constant outcomes. This left the entrance workplace within the uncomfortable place of admitting a big mistake.

The commerce represents extra than simply shifting on from Hunter. It alerts a realistic method from the Cavaliers’ entrance workplace, who acknowledged their error and refused to let sunk prices dictate their future.

The Cavs addressed a number of key areas of their three-team deal
Jackson Flickinger, Concern The Sword

Kings make commerce to amass De’Andre Hunter from Cleveland Cavaliers
Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee

Sending Schroder and Ellis to Cleveland in trade for Hunter alleviates the logjam within the backcourt whereas including measurement, size and one other versatile defender to the frontcourt alongside Keegan Murray. The transfer will unencumber minutes for rookie first-round draft decide Nique Clifford at taking pictures guard whereas opening the door for the Kings to transform undrafted rookie heart Dylan Cardwell from a two-way contract to an ordinary NBA contract.

Who’s the Kings’ latest addition? What to learn about De’Andre Hunter commerce
Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee