NBA Trade Deadline: Cavaliers, Hawks swap forwards De'Andre Hunter, Caris LeVert, Georges Niang

The Atlanta Hawks are trading forward De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two swaps, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. It’s the only latest deal in a wave of moves before the NBA trade deadline today at 3 p.m. ET.

Hunter is averaging 19.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 46.1% from the field and 39.3% from beyond the arc. Hunter has been with the Atlanta Hawks since he was drafted in 2019.

De’Andre Hunter is not only a legitimate offensive threat, he is a talented defender. Hunter was the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and NABC Defensive Player of the Year during his final season at Virginia. Now, Hunter will look to show off his talents in Cleveland.

He’ll also be reuniting with an old friend on his new team. Ty Jerome was on Virginia with Hunter during the Cavaliers’ run to the national championship in 2019. Jerome got traded to Cleveland last season and is averaging 11.3 points per game this season.

Unlike Hunter, this isn’t Caris LeVert’s first rodeo. The Hawks will be LeVert’s fourth team in the NBA. However, he’d been with the Cavaliers since 2022 and was beginning to grow comfortable in Cleveland.

LeVert is averaging 10.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game this season while shooting 45.3% from the field and 40.5% from beyond the arc. Georges Niang will also be a nice addition for the Hawks. Niang is a sharpshooter as well, knocking down 40% of his 3-point attempts this season.

Dallas Mavericks fans protest Luka Doncic trade

On Saturday, NBA fans were left in shock after ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that the Dallas Mavericks were trading Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. Instead of silently watching their star player be traded away, Mavericks fans gathered today in front of American Airlines Center to protest.

Specifically, the trade was a three-team deal between the Mavericks, Lakers and Utah Jazz. The Lakers received Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. Dallas acquired Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

Meanwhile, the Jazz received Jalen Hood-Schifino, the LA Clippers’ 2025 second-round pick and the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.

With Doncic averaging 28.1 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.8 assists per game this season while shooting 46.4% from the field and 35.4% from 3-point range, most Mavericks fans are far from happy with the blockbuster trade.

Several of the Mavericks fans at the protest on Sunday let their frustrations be heard by writing obscenities about Dallas general manager Nico Harrison near the Dirk Nowitzki statue outside of American Airlines Center.