Hunter, who is set to make $24 million on an expiring deal during the 2026-27 season, joins a Sacramento roster that is thin at the forward spots, but is it possible the Kings look to flip the veteran this week or in the offseason?<\/p>\n
Of course, Hunter\u2019s $24 million salary makes him an almost perfect fit as a trade partner for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, who is expected to be moved before Thursday\u2019s 12 pm PT deadline passes.<\/p>\n
While the Kings have been linked to Kuminga since the offseason, and there has been mutual interest between the two sides in recent memory, it\u2019s unlikely that Sacramento and Golden State strike a deal\u2013even with Hunter now in the fold.<\/p>\n
The Athletic\u2018s Sam Amick<\/a> joined The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross to share his thoughts on the Kings-Cavs trade, where he shared his intel on Golden State\u2019s thought process when it comes to finding a trade for Kuminga.<\/p>\n (Photo by Ellen Schmidt\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve seen some of the speculation about this being tied into other moves. Now, could Hunter get moved again? Sure, but I\u2019m not hearing that right now,\u201d Amick said on Monday.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd specifically, the speculation about the Warriors and a possible Kuminga tie-in. The Warriors have made it really clear that they don\u2019t want any money past this year. So just for folks that had wondered about that part, I don\u2019t see that happening either.\u201d<\/p>\n Time will tell where Kuminga winds up, but it\u2019s clear that other scenarios like Miami or Milwaukee in a potential blockbuster deal for star Giannis Antetokounmpo appear more likely for the young wing.<\/p>\n Sam also shared his intel on Sacramento\u2019s process leading into the trade that sent Ellis and Schroder to Cleveland, with other teams emerging as serious suitors before the Kings went with the Cavaliers\u2019 offer that brought Hunter to the 916.<\/p>\n Although Sacramento was pushing teams to offer a first-round pick for Ellis, who will be eligible to sign an extension with Cleveland next week, Amick says interested teams balked at the asking price leading into deadline week.<\/p>\n This caused the Kings to act, and the three-team deal came together.<\/p>\n (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n \u201cThey didn\u2019t want to wait because there was concern that once things picked up, the reality was someone like Keon Ellis wasn\u2019t going to be a priority,\u201d Amick said. \u201cThere was fear of being left holding the bag.\u201d<\/p>\n Sacramento didn\u2019t get any draft compensation in return for Ellis \u2014 even parting with a second-rounder of their own in the process \u2014 but Sam says some teams may have given up a first-round pick before shifting their attention elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cAs for teams that might have given up a first, Minnesota is a good example,\u201d Amick continued. \u201cThey were involved and showed real interest\u2014possibly two seconds\u2014but then Giannis Antetokounmpo became the priority. There was also some chatter about ownership involvement on Minnesota\u2019s side getting in the way, so that option faded.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndiana was another team, but the Benedict Mathurin situation became an obstacle,\u201d Amick said. \u201cThey didn\u2019t want to give up a late first while still having Mathurin, especially if they might move him later. The logic was whether it made sense to give up a late first for Keon Ellis if he might not beat Mathurin out for playing time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose were the most aggressive suitors,\u201d Amick continued. \u201cBoston was involved, too, though I\u2019m forgetting some of the details there. That option faded as well, which is why they ultimately went with Cleveland.\u201d<\/p>\n Check out the full interview with The Athletic\u2018s Sam Amick by scrolling to the top of the page or by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n Listen to\u00a0The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross\u00a0from 6 \u2013 10 a.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on\u00a0Sactown Sports 1140.<\/a><\/p>\n Click here for full episodes of\u00a0The Carmichael Dave Show with\u00a0Jason Ross<\/a><\/p>\n More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports<\/p>\n The Dennis Schroder never made sense for the Sacramento Kings. It makes even less sense now.<\/p>\n As soon as the Kings and De\u2019Aaron Fox\u2019s relationship came to a rocky ending this time last year, it became evident that Sacramento would need to find a long-term solution at the point guard spot.<\/p>\n Although the Kings allowed former Executive of the Year winner Monte McNair and his front office to execute the Fox trade not even eight weeks prior, McNair and his staff were excused less than two hours following Sacramento\u2019s season-ending loss to Dallas in the NBA Play-In Game.<\/p>\n First-year general manager Scott Perry, who was brought in to replace McNair a few days later, struck quickly during the opening minutes of free agency by signing veteran journeyman Dennis Schroder, who was entering his age-32 season and suiting up for his 10th NBA franchise.<\/p>\n While Schroder\u2019s age, skill set, and surprisingly large contract \u2014 $44.5 million over three years with a partial guarantee in the final season \u2014 didn\u2019t seem to align with the Sacramento Kings\u2019 current roster makeup or timeline, Perry saw it differently.<\/p>\n Internally, Schroder was viewed as the top target on the market, the \u201cnumber one guy\u201d Sacramento believed could serve as a building block as the organization pushed toward sustained success.<\/p>\n Is the Ellis-Hunter trade a sign of more to come for Sacramento?<\/a><\/p>\n Upcoming Sacramento Kings schedule for the 2025-26 season<\/p>\n Wednesday, February 4th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Memphis Grizzlies \u2013 7:00 PM PT Thank you for reading\u00a0SactownSports.com<\/a>. Follow us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Google News<\/a>, and subscribe to our\u00a0YouTube<\/a>\u00a0channel.<\/p>\n![\"MINNEAPOLIS,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/GettyImages-2214607144-2-300x200.jpg\")
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\nFriday, February 6th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Los Angeles Clippers \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nSaturday, February 7th\u00a0\u2013 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers \u2013 7:00 PM PT
\nMonday, February 9th\u00a0\u2013 @ New Orleans Pelicans \u2013 5:00 PM PT
\nWednesday, February 11th \u2013 @ Utah Jazz \u2013 6:00 PM PT<\/p>\n
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