The Lakers’ list of potential trade targets continues to grow, with a recent report linking them to a familiar face.
Insider: East Wing Could Be ‘Viable Backup Plan’ for Lakers
Former Top-5 Pick Worth Monitoring for LA
In a Thursday night post on X, Forbes NBA insider Evan Sidery wrote that Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter is a “trade target to monitor” for the Lakers, presumably if a pursuit of New Orleans Pelicans wing Herb Jones falls through.
“As the Cavaliers explore the idea of significantly tweaking their roster, Hunter becomes a coveted commodity during trade season,” he added. “Los Angeles is pursuing Herb Jones, but Hunter could become the viable backup plan.”
Hunter was drafted fourth by the Lakers in 2019 with the pick that became part of the Anthony Davis blockbuster. The Pelicans moved Hunter to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night for picks 8, 17, and 35.
The 28-year-old wing has been an efficient contributor through his seven years in the league, averaging 14.8 points on 45% shooting from the field while shifting between starter and sixth man. In 24 games for Cleveland so far, Hunter has averaged 15.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 43% from the field, 30% from three and 85% from the free-throw line. The Cavaliers, who blitzed through the East with a conference-best 64-18 record last year, now find themselves in play-in positioning (15-13 overall, 8th) having lost seven of their last ten games.
Lakers May Not Gain Much with Hunter
Despite steady production throughout his career, Hunter has struggled as of late, with poor shooting and a lack of defense serving as sticking points in recent games and leading to his appearance in trade rumors. Cavs fans and writers have called for Hunter to be benched—which happened for the first time Wednesday night—while some Laker fans hope the front office avoids him at all costs. Although the writing could be on the wall for Hunter’s time in Cleveland, it doesn’t appear that going west will solve his (or the Lakers’) problems.
The Lakers remain clearly in need of consistent wing defenders, and Hunter, who has a defensive rating of 117 this season, does little to mitigate the issue. If defensive shortcomings weren’t enough to scare LA away, Hunter’s contract might: he is making $23 million this season and nearly $25 million the next. Trading at least two players for a “good but not great” wing is not a risk the Lakers can afford to take—especially with the team’s hot start despite numerous obstacles.
If the Lakers are serious about upgrades, they are still better off pushing for Jones, who checks all of the boxes as an athletic two-way player and is on a cheaper, long-term contract. Unless New Orleans’ asking price becomes too much to bear and talks around Heat wing Andrew Wiggins stay grounded, the Lakers should steer clear of Hunter for the time being.
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