The Cleveland Cavaliers were amongst the most aggressive teams at the NBA trade deadline, bringing in James Harden from the Los Angeles Clippers.
That said, with the Harden deal, their other trade with the Sacramento Kings has flown under the radar.
Cleveland shipped out De’Andre Hunter in return for guards Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis, both of which have been vital parts of Cleveland’s rotation since being acquired.
Hunter on the other hand, only played two games for the Kings before undergoing season-ending eye surgery.
Although he isn’t known for his scoring, Ellis has improved Cleveland’s defense while still shooting three-pointers at a consistent rate. In 10 games with the Cavaliers since being acquired, Ellis is averaging 1.7 steals per game, 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 33.3% from three-point range.
Recently, Ellis addressed his impending free agency. Although he’s unsure of what is to come, he feels as though an extension between him and the Cavaliers makes a lot of sense.
“We’ll see where all the cards end up, but I do think it’s a good situation for both sides. We can both help each other. (…) I definitely think it’s a great situation to be in, coming from Sacramento to here now. I’m definitely excited about it for sure.”
A coveted piece at the deadline, Ellis is expected to have many suitors as a high-level defensive guard.
However, if Ellis would like to play for a contender, the Cavaliers can make a great pitch to re-sign him.
In the meantime, Cleveland will return to action Tuesday against the conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
