The Los Angeles Lakers are reportedly interested in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers wing De'Andre Hunter. It's a somewhat eye-opening development for a variety of reasons, including the potential loss of long-awaited cap space and the rumored cost of doing business.
With the losses outweighing the gains, Lakers fans can only hope that Rob Pelinka isn't quite as desperate as the current rumors make the team seem.
Los Angeles has an unavoidable need for 3-and-D wings who can defend high-level scorers at the point of attack and space the floor on offense. Hunter checks those boxes on paper, but there are reasonable concerns over whether or not that's enough to make a trade worthwhile.
Despite the potential red flags, Cavaliers reporter Chris Feder noted on the Wine and Gold Talk podcast that the Lakers are in negotiations to send Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht to Cleveland in a trade for Hunter.
"My sources tell me that the Cavs and the Lakers have discussed a general framework surrounding De'Andre Hunter of Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht, and then bringing in a third team."
Though there's reason to be intrigued by Fedor's report, the Lakers can't afford to take a chance of this nature, no matter how desperate times may feel.
Lakers would sacrifice future for questionable gain with De'Andre Hunter
Hunter, 28, is a seven-year veteran who averaged 16.4 points per game and shot 39.6 percent from beyond the arc between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. He finished fourth in voting for Sixth Man of the Year in 2024-25, and has a reputation for being a 3-and-D wing.
Even if one were to look past the fact that he's shooting just 30.9 percent from beyond the arc in 2025-26, there's simply no way to label him as a definitive upgrade in this scenario.
Hachimura, 27, may not be quite as dynamic as Hunter on offense, but he's remarkably efficient within his role. Between 2023-24 and 2025-26, he's accumulated averages of 13.1 points and 1.6 three-point field goals made per game on .519/.421/.753 shooting.
Hachimura is right in line with those numbers at 12.1 points and 1.8 three-point field goals made per game on .500/.433/.756 shooting in 2025-26.
Even if Hachimura were struggling, however, a swap for Hunter lacks the long-term value the Lakers need. Hachimura has an expiring $18,259,259 salary that could help Los Angeles create a necessary influx of cap space during the 2026 offseason.
Hunter, meanwhile, is owed $23,303,571 in 2025-26 and $24,910,714 in 2026-27 with $1.25 million in potential additional seasonal bonuses.
As such, this hypothetical trade would see the Lakers give up one of the few under-25 players they have and sacrifice a significant measure of cap space along the way with the return including a major financial burden. It's simply too grand a risk for Los Angeles to take at this stage of their retooling.
Luka Doncic may very well thrive alongside Hunter, but if the Lakers are looking to avoid desperation plays, then they need to run away from this rumor at full speed.