Bucks find help elsewhere before trip to Portland

The Atlanta Hawks have agreed to trade De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps. The swaps are in 2026 and 2028 against picks that have already been swapped with the Utah Jazz, which means the Hawks will receive the second most favorable of the three picks in each year.

The two sides have been discussing a trade centered on Hunter throughout the week.

Hunter is averaging 19.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 28.7 minutes across 37 games with the Hawks. Hunter has a PER of 15.7, which is a career high mark with his three-point percentage hitting 39.3 percent on 6.7 attempts per game. Hunter makes $21.6 million this year and is set to make $23.3 million and $24.9 million the following two seasons.

The Cavaliers also dip below the luxury tax with the move. Atlanta is expected to make another move as this trade puts them into the tax.

There are several teams who are expected have interest in a Kevin Durant trade this offseason as the Phoenix Suns will likely work together on his exit. The Suns have had a disappointing pair of seasons since adding Bradley Beal to their star core of Durant and Devin Booker.

While the Golden State Warriors were among the most notable teams to pursue a trade for Durant at the deadline, there was a number of other teams with interest that might be more mutual in the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets, reports Shams Charania.

“Back at the NBA trade deadline in February, Minnesota, Miami, New York, San Antonio and Houston were among the team, I’m told, there was mutual interest between Durant and those teams,” said Charania. “I expect those teams and potentially other to be back in the fray this summer.”

Durant will be eligible for a two-year, $120 million extension this coming offseason. Durant is on an expiring contract and will be have at least some modicum of control over the process.