De’Andre Hunter. Photo: UVA Athletics
Latest reminder for me not to buy NBA jerseys: De’Andre Hunter is on the move again, this time to Sacramento, as part of a three-team trade.
Hunter went from Atlanta to Cleveland last season; that was a brief reunion with Ty Jerome, who signed in the offseason with Memphis.
I have a Hawks Hunter jersey; never did get around to buying the Cleveland jersey.
Ty Jerome. Photo: UVA Basketball
I have Jerome jerseys from his stints in OKC, Golden State and Cleveland.
Good news, by the way, about Jerome: he made his debut with the Grizzlies last night, after missing the first three months with an ankle injury.
Jerome in his debut: 20 points, 6-of-12 FG, 2-of-7 3FG, 6-of-7 FT, six assists/two turnovers, 20 minutes.
Back to Hunter: Dre is averaging 14.0 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, shooting 42.3 percent from the floor overall, and 30.8 percent from three.
He’s going to a Sacramento team that is currently 12-38 on the season, a year after sneaking into the play-in in the Western Conference under Doug Christie, who was 27-24 as the interim head coach.
Christie was given the job on a permanent basis in May.
The Cavs got Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis from the Kings, who also sent Dario Saric to Chicago, with the three exchanging draft picks.
Cleveland has been a major disappointment this season, sitting right now at 29-21, fifth in the East, after going 64-18 in 2024-2025.
The move, for the Cavs, is about shedding salary – Hunter is set to make $23.3 million and $24.9 million in the final two years of his current deal.
Sacramento, which is also exploring a trade that would get rid of the productive but also 36-year-old Demar DeRozan, is back to rebuilding, which they do a lot out there.
Quick hits
Trey Murphy III (New Orleans Pelicans): 21.5 ppg, 5.9 rebounds/g, 3.6 assists/g, 47.0% FG, 36.0% 3FG
Sam Hauser (Boston Celtics): 9.3 ppg, 3.9 rebounds/g, 41.9% FG, 40.0% 3FG
Jay Huff (Indiana Pacers): 8.5 ppg, 3.8 rebounds/g, 2.0 blocks/g, 47.1% FG, 31.9% 3FG
Ryan Dunn (Phoenix Suns): 6.2 ppg, 4.3 rebounds/g, 44.5% FG, 31.1% 3FG
