Lakers and Cavaliers Reportedly Discussing Trade Ahead of Upcoming Deadline

Trade discussions are starting to heat up in The Land.

Following the Cleveland Cavaliers' big-time victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at home on Wednesday, Jan. 28, the two sides have reportedly been in discussions surrounding forward De'Andre Hunter. The former 1st round selection in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Lakers hasn't panned out the way the Cavaliers would have thought he would in 69 games of action.

His productivity on the offensive end has dropped, and defensively, he's practically a non-factor. At 6'7", 221 pounds, he's averaging a career-low 0.1 blocks a game and just 0.6 steals.

With the playoff push starting to ramp up in Cleveland, Hunter's fit is becoming increasingly unlikely to end up working out.

On Friday, Jan. 30, news broke that the Lakers and Cavaliers are discussing a trade that would send Hunter to the Lakers in exchange for forward Rui Hachimura and guard Dalton Knecht. The report comes from Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, who specializes in covering the Wine and Gold.

🚨 The Lakers and Cavaliers are discussing a trade that would send out Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht in exchange for De’Andre Hunter, per @ChrisFedor

A third team could be involved. pic.twitter.com/yjYChX9KxP
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 30, 2026

Does the trade work? If not, what does?

Well, while Fedor's trade makes sense for both teams, at least roster-wise, it doesn't make sense financially.

On Cleveland's end, they'd be pulled out of the second apron and would be under the allowable incoming by $1,034,152. But the Lakers wouldn't be. Due to their issues on the books, they'd be hard-capped and over the 1st Apron by $1,306,927, making it impossible to happen straight up.

Instead of the trade involving just the Lakers and Cavaliers, adding in a third team would allow the salaries to be flexed between multiple organizations.

Here's a trade scenario that makes sense for each team involved and works out financially according to Spotrac's NBA Trade Machine.

A Realistic Trade Package

Cavaliers Receives: F Noah Clowney, F Rui Hachimura

Lakers Receives: F De'Andre Hunter, C Day'Ron Sharpe

Nets Receives: C Deandre Ayton, G Dalton Knecht, 2032 2nd Round Pick

This trade, which sees the Cavaliers bring in two new forwards to the roster, helps bolster the bench for the second half of the season. Clowney is putting together a really strong career since joining the league back in the 2023-24 campaign, putting up a career average of 10.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists a night.

He's started all but six games this season, but in Cleveland, he'd certainly come off the bench, getting good minutes behind Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen. Hachimura would play a similar role, just with a deeper focus on scoring. His contract is also expiring, which would help the Cavaliers clear the books a bit more this offseason if they need to retool.

For the Lakers, they get the former player they drafted to jump right into the starting lineup and a very good center who might end up being a starter for them, while giving up very little in return. It's become increasingly obvious that Ayton doesn't fit with their plans and replacing him with a young, impressionable Sharpe might give them a future starting lineup staple.

The Nets are pretty much taking a leap of faith here that Knecht ends up panning out to be a consistent sharpshooter. In Cleveland or Los Angeles, he wouldn't be able to fully develop and get legitimate time, but in Brooklyn, he'd likely start with a good chunk of minutes off the bench with a chance to prove himself. They'd also bring in Ayton, who's a good rebounder and actually isn't taking up too big a cap hit. He has one year remaining after this season.

While the Nets are the team in this situation taking a relatively big risk, a trade like this frees up the roster for the young players to make the team their own. If they really do want to lean into the future, this trade does just that.

Both the Lakers and Cavaliers also get to retool ahead of the playoffs, bringing in players that fit their respective systems.

While Cleveland's cap space is going to be an issue this season, the hope is that making a move similar to this would allow them to finally open up doors for freedom in trade talks down the line.

Only time will tell if the front office decides to pull the trigger and shakeup the roster ahead of the upcoming trade deadline set for Thursday, Feb. 5, at 3:00 p.m. EST.