The Cleveland Cavaliers bolstered their bench by acquiring guards Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal involving the Chicago Bulls. The trade, reported Saturday night, sends forward De'Andre Hunter to Sacramento and center Dario Šarić along with two second-round picks to Chicago. This move addresses Cleveland's needs in defense and scoring while shedding salary.
The trade marks the second transaction of the 2025-26 NBA season, following the Atlanta Hawks' deal sending Trae Young to Washington nearly a month earlier. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the Cavaliers receive Schröder and Ellis to improve their point-of-attack defense and backup ball-handling. Cleveland, which ranks 23rd in bench scoring and sees a 10-point drop per 100 possessions when Donovan Mitchell rests, gains two role players suited to modern NBA demands.
Schröder, entering his seventh team in four seasons, has shown inconsistency, struggling this year in Sacramento after strong stints with the Lakers, Nets, and Pistons. Despite his size, he excels as an on-ball defender against smaller guards. Ellis, a 2022 undrafted free agent, emerged as a key defender for the Kings in the 2023-24 stretch, shooting over 40% from three in a supporting role. However, coach Mike Brown reduced his minutes last season and this year, despite Ellis maintaining effectiveness and ranking in the 95th percentile for blocks and steals per Cleaning the Glass. His career three-point percentage stands at 41.6%.
In exchange, Cleveland sends De'Andre Hunter, acquired at last year's deadline, whose shooting has declined at age 28. Hunter, owed nearly $25 million next season, becomes expendable with the rise of Jaylon Tyson and Max Strus's return. The deal saves the Cavaliers around $50 million, potentially easing their $400 million payroll and second-apron status without surrendering a first-round pick.
For Sacramento, holding the NBA's worst record amid a rebuild, the trade adds Hunter as a serviceable wing alongside Keegan Murray but raises questions about their direction. They mismanaged Ellis's contract by exercising a team option, making him an unrestricted free agent in 2026, and failed to secure a first-round pick despite interest from teams like the Cavaliers, Celtics, and Spurs.
The Bulls facilitate the deal by absorbing Šarić's $5.4 million salary for two second-round picks, a minor gain for a struggling franchise. This is the third straight year Chicago and Sacramento partner in a three-team trade, often to the benefit of other teams. Ellis's final Kings game was a 112-93 loss to the Celtics on Friday, where he recorded six points, two rebounds, two blocks, and a steal. The NBA trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. ET.
