Cavaliers’ Deadline Masterstroke: A Game-Changer for the East

The Cleveland Cavaliers have done it again. Just when it seemed like the NBA trade deadline would pass without any blockbuster moves, the Cavs pulled off a sneaky yet brilliant deal in the final hours. While there were no superstar trades, this one stands out as a major upgrade for an already formidable squad.

Cleveland sent Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks, and two pick swaps to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for De’Andre Hunter. On paper, this might not seem like a seismic shift, but dig a little deeper, and it’s clear that this move could have a significant impact on the Eastern Conference playoff race—especially for the top-seeded Boston Celtics.

Saying Goodbye to Two Key Rotational Pieces

Losing LeVert and Niang isn’t insignificant. Both players have been crucial pieces off the Cavs’ bench this season, providing consistent production and, most importantly, lethal three-point shooting.

• Caris LeVert – 10.2 PPG, 40.5% 3PT
• Georges Niang – 8.7 PPG, 40.0% 3PT

Cleveland’s offensive resurgence this season has been fueled by their elite three-point shooting. The Cavs are hitting 16.2 threes per game (2nd in the NBA) on 39.4% efficiency (1st in the NBA)—a massive leap from previous years. Trading away two high-percentage shooters naturally raises concerns about maintaining that firepower. However, what they got in return more than makes up for the loss.

Welcome to Cleveland, De’Andre Hunter

De’Andre Hunter is having the best season of his career. Before the trade, he had played 37 games for Atlanta, averaging:

• 19.0 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.5 APG
• 46.1% FG / 39.3% 3PT / 85.8% FT
• True Shooting Percentage: 61.6%

Hunter’s progression into a legitimate offensive weapon makes this trade a home run for Cleveland. In his sixth NBA season, the former No. 4 overall pick has refined his three-point shot, attempting a career-high 6.7 threes per game and making 2.6 per contest. Unlike earlier in his career, where he was a shaky outside shooter (35% from deep two years ago), Hunter has officially evolved into a true 3-and-D wing.

Fixing Cleveland’s Biggest Weakness

For years, the Cavs’ Achilles' heel has been their small forward position. Before Hunter’s arrival, they were relying on Max Strus (6’5”) and Isaac Okoro (6’5”) to defend bigger wings. While both are solid defenders, their lack of size made it difficult to handle elite perimeter threats, especially in the playoffs.

Enter Hunter.

At 6’8” with a 7’2” wingspan, Hunter gives Cleveland the versatility they’ve desperately needed. He can defend 1-through-4, providing the Cavs with a legitimate stopper who can take pressure off Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. And while his on-ball defense is better than his help defense, that won’t be an issue in Cleveland, where Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen anchor the paint. This is a perfect complementary fit.

Hunter isn’t just a defensive specialist, though. He has on-ball scoring ability, making him a capable replacement for LeVert. He won’t run the offense, but he can attack closeouts, hit mid-range jumpers, and create his own shot when necessary.

Cleveland’s New Look

With Hunter in the lineup, the Cavaliers can now roll out a starting five that can challenge anyone in the East:

• Darius Garland (PG)
• Donovan Mitchell (SG)
• De’Andre Hunter (SF)
• Evan Mobley (PF)
• Jarrett Allen (C)

Off the bench, they still have Max Strus, Dean Wade, Ty Jerome, and Sam Merrill, giving them a balanced rotation with shooting, defense, and depth.

The Steal of the Deadline?

The most shocking part of this deal? Cleveland didn’t give up a first-round pick.

That’s right—Hunter, a former No. 4 overall pick having a career year, was acquired without sacrificing a first-round asset. Even better, because of salary implications, the Cavs are now $1.5 million below the luxury tax, which means they have two open roster spots and flexibility to add talent via the buyout market.

Essentially, Cleveland got significantly better while still keeping future flexibility. That’s an absolute masterclass in team-building.

What Was Atlanta Thinking?

On the flip side, the Hawks’ decision to trade Hunter for zero first-round picks is baffling.

Atlanta is in a weird, self-inflicted crisis—they’re too good to tank but not good enough to compete. They’ve beaten teams like the Celtics and Cavs but also lost to the Bulls and Raptors.

What’s even more puzzling is their overall deadline strategy:

• Traded Hunter for no first-rounders
• Traded Bogdan Bogdanović (plus three second-rounders) for Terance Mann and Bones Hyland
• Gave up a 2028 second-rounder just to dump Cody Zeller’s contract

After all these moves, Atlanta didn’t improve, didn’t get younger, and didn’t stockpile assets. Even worse, they don’t own their 2025 first-round pick (it belongs to the Spurs), so tanking isn’t an option.

It’s no surprise that rumors are already swirling about Trae Young potentially requesting a trade this summer. If this is the front office’s plan for the future, Young might not want to stick around to see it play out.

Boston, You’ve Been Warned

With this trade, Cleveland has officially put the rest of the East on notice.

Boston remains the team to beat, but if anyone can challenge them, it’s the Cavs. Last year, Cleveland’s downfall in the playoffs was their lack of size and physicality on the wing—something the Knicks exploited. That’s no longer a problem.

This team now has:

• Elite defense (Mobley, Allen, Hunter, Okoro)
• Elite shooting (Mitchell, Garland, Strus, Hunter, Merrill)
• Elite depth
• Two stars in Mitchell and Garland who can take over games

No, they’re not the favorites. But if Boston takes them lightly, Cleveland has all the pieces to shock the world.

The Cavaliers are coming.