NBA Trade Rumors: Cavaliers Targeting Two 3-and-D Wings
The Cleveland Cavaliers have no intention of trading Donovan Mitchell this season, hoping to make a push in the second half to try for a long playoff run. With that, they're looking at adding a 3-and-D wing in advance of the Feb. 8th trade deadline, and two key names have surfaced on the rumor mill.
According to NBA Insider Marc Stein, the Cavs are interested in Royce O'Neal from the Brooklyn Nets and De'Andre Hunter of the Atlanta Hawks.
O'Neal brings it on defense, and has shot the ball well from deep, averaging 38% in his career from three-point range, and 36% this season. He's averaging 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds. On the defensive end, he has some bulk at 6’4", 226 pounds, and can defend both guards and forwards effectively.
One veteran team executive read my Sunday piece that wondered aloud about the Cavaliers pursuing a trade for Brooklyn’s Royce O’Neale and relayed that Cleveland indeed has O’Neale on its list of targets.
Interesting to note that O'Neal and Cavs superstar Donovan Mitchell are still close, from their days playing together with the Utah Jazz for five seasons from 2017 through 2022. O'Neal becomes a free agent at season's end.
Hunter has been rumored to be on the trade block all season in Atlanta, and provides another option for Cleveland on the wing, providing more scoring than O'Neal, at 15 points a game, while knocking down threes at a 40% clip.
It's a more pricey acquisition, however, as he's in the first season of a 4-year, $90 million contract.
Photo: Presse Sports-USA TODAY Sports
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