The Atlanta Hawks could move any number of veteran players before the 2025 trade deadline, even one like De’Andre Hunter who has found a new level as a reserve and in his first game back in the starting lineup.
Hunter, who is in Year 2 of a four-year, $90 million contract, is averaging a career-high 18.9 points and shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc.
His performance has drawn attention.
“Multiple sources tell cleveland.com that the Cavaliers have expressed interest in Hawks sixth man De’Andre Hunter,” Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor wrote on February 5. “Those talks with Atlanta, sources say, are centered on free-agent-to-be Caris LeVert.”
HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto reported on the Cavs’ interest in Hunter on February 4. But the Cavaliers have shown interest in the former No. 4 overall pick before.
That's Dre in the corner 🎯 pic.twitter.com/jYmkDVKevO
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) February 4, 2025
They were a team to watch in a potential trade for Hunter in January 2024.
“Atlanta's De'Andre Hunter is said to be another name to watch in Cleveland's ongoing search for a 3-and-D upgrade,” The Stein Lines’ Marc Stein wrote in January 2024. “Absorbing Hunter's contract … makes him a challenging payroll fit (and, frankly, difficult for the Hawks to trade anywhere).”
According to Jake Fischer for Yahoo Sports in 2023, the Hawks held “significant” talks with the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers about a Hunter trade
Fischer also reported then that the Hawks spoke with the Indiana Pacers regarding Hunter.
The Athletic's Shams Charania reported the Hawks offered Hunter in a trade to the Toronto Raptors for Pascal Siakam last season. The Raptors ultimately traded Siakam to the Pacers. Simply put, this is something the Hawks have weighed before.
Hawks would take major risk with De’Andre Hunter trade
He has been mired in a shooting slump, connecting on 26.4% of his triples over his last 10 appearances. But he has gotten that up to 30.3% over his last five appearances while averaging 20 PPG.
It is his second-highest-scoring stretch of the season, albeit in a much smaller sample size than the first.
There is an inherent risk o trading Hunter, though.
The Hawks must find an immediate replacement if they are going to trade him lest they leave themselves short on firepower.
Hunter, 27, has battled injuries throughout his career, including to start this season as he navigated knee inflammation. However, he has become an integral part of the Hawks’ offense, and his showing in his return to the starting lineup underscored that.
Their other rumored interests suggest they have no plans on taking steps back.
LeVert is averaging 10.5/3.8/2.8 line while slashing .466/.414/.699 this season. He is also older (30), smaller, and not the defender that Hunter is while also having his own extended injury history including knee and back issues.
LeVert is in the final year of a two-year, $32 million pact. Trading for him would be about future financial flexibility and whatever draft capital the Hawks could get, not improvement.