Lakers and Cavaliers negotiate Hunter trade! Willing to offer Rui Hachimura and Dalton Konekt to prepare for the post-LeBron era

On January 31st Beijing time, according to Cavaliers reporter Fedor, the Lakers are seeking to bolster their wing position and have initiated negotiations with the Cavaliers about acquiring Hunter.

Fedor said: "Based on my information, the Cavaliers and Lakers have set up a basic structure for a De’Andre Hunter trade, mainly involving Rui Hachimura and Dalton Konekt, and both sides are considering bringing in a third team to participate in the transaction."

It remains unclear which third team might be involved, but Fedor pointed out that both the Nets and Jazz are potential candidates, as these two teams have some of the lowest payrolls in the league and enough salary cap space to absorb extra contracts.

From the Cavaliers’ perspective, the primary motivation behind pushing this trade is to reduce salary burdens.

Hunter’s contract extends through the 2026-27 season, with a salary of $24.9 million next year. The Cavaliers currently have the highest total payroll in the league, exceeding the second luxury tax threshold by $22 million. Looking ahead to next season, their projected payroll will still surpass the second luxury tax line by $17.9 million.

If Hunter is exchanged for Hachimura, whose contract expires soon and who earns $18.3 million next season, the Cavaliers will achieve significant salary relief this summer. Additionally, this trade strengthens the team—Hachimura can fill a roster gap and help the Cavaliers aim for a higher standing in the Eastern Conference.

This season, Hachimura has played 36 games for the Lakers, averaging 12.1 points per game with a 50.0% field goal percentage and 43.3% from three-point range. The Cavaliers ranked second in the league in three-point percentage in the 2024-25 season, but despite taking 41.2 three-point attempts per game this season (fourth most in the league), their accuracy has dropped to 15th place.

Hachimura and Hunter have similar defensive capabilities. For the Cavaliers, this trade not only boosts offensive firepower and eases future salary pressures but also allows them to take a low-risk chance on Konekt, a former first-round pick. Overall, it’s a very sensible move.

For the Lakers, they urgently need a forward who can complement LeBron James. The potential of Hachimura, LaRavia, and Vanderbilt is somewhat limited, and as LeBron enters the later stage of his career, combined with the defensive weaknesses of the team’s core Luka Dončić, the Lakers’ defensive ceiling is already low, and the lack of strength on the wing only worsens this problem.

Even with Reeves returning from injury, the team’s defensive struggles are unlikely to improve. Hunter’s arrival would provide head coach Reddick with a dependable and versatile defensive specialist.

This trade also carries another major advantage: it will not consume the Lakers’ salary cap space for the summer of 2027. At that time, the Lakers are expected to free up about $100 million in cap space, potentially allowing them to pursue superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo or Nikola Jokić in free agency.

Furthermore, if this season turns out to be LeBron James’ final one with the Lakers, Hunter could become the team’s transitional core in the 2026-27 season, helping the franchise smoothly manage its roster transition.

Cleveland media also noted that this trade holds different significance for both teams.

For the Lakers, Hunter might serve as LeBron’s successor in case the superstar retires or leaves in free agency.Although Hunter’s performance in Cleveland has been underwhelming, the Lakers believe he can thrive within their system alongside various teammates.

For the Cavaliers, this potential trade represents a pragmatic approach to team buildingAlthough it may not significantly improve the roster in the short term, the financial flexibility gained could prove extremely valuable for future moves. This allows the Cavaliers to move away from a core group that may not justify a hefty luxury tax burden.