Lakers and Cavs Woo DeAndre Hunter Before Deadline

Merlin sees the Lakers and Cavaliers quietly exploring a swap that would send De'Andre Hunter to Los Angeles for Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht, with talk of a third team to help match salaries. Chris Fedor reported they "discussed a general framework." For Cleveland the appeal is financial relief—Hunter carries a $24.9 million salary while Hachimura has an $18.3 million expiring deal—along with a shooting upgrade. For Los Angeles it is about adding a versatile wing defender beside LeBron. Merlin notes the chess pieces align. The Cavs sit well over the second apron and need cap breathing room, while Hunter would shore up the Lakers’ perimeter defense and still leave them flexible for the 2027 free agent class. This looks like a sensible, low risk move for both teams rather than a blockbuster.