On Jan. 31, 2026, it was reported that the Sacramento Kings traded fan favorite Keon Ellis and point guard Dennis Schröder to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal that sent Cavs forward De’Andre Hunter to Sacramento.
De’Andre Hunter, turning 29 this year, seemed to be the acquisition the Kings should have made at the deadline.
Fans questioned the move, blew off steam, and tried to rationalize the trade that happened on that fateful Sunday night:
Whether Scott Perry expected De’Andre Hunter to rebound his value and net good assets, or to be a core member of this team in the near future, it is understandable why fans were angry that week. The Kings gave up a homegrown fan favorite to get off a bad signing from the offseason.
His arrival was questionable and came after a rough series of events. But maybe the Kings can feel justified in the move if De’Andre Hunter does what Scott Perry hoped he could do this season.
De’Andre Hunter’s Role So Far This Season
Coming off an ugly, short stint with Sacramento last season that ended with an eye injury, De’Andre Hunter was expected to have a larger role in 2026-27.
He has started every game that he has been available so far this year. After Keegan Murray got injured, Hunter was obviously tasked with filling those shoes. Murray is also his partner on the wing.
Speaking of Keegan Murray and De’Andre Hunter’s fit, they have been underwhelming together. Keegan Murray has shown in his limited sample size this season that his offensive struggles are still lingering. Hunter is not doing much to improve the overall perimeter play and has been inconsistent on both ends of the court so far this season.
De’Andre Hunter had great back-to-back 24-point performances. But excluding a few scoring bursts, four of his 10 games this season are single-digit points. Additionally, the once-hailed defender has only 2 steals in eight games this season.
Players’ individual stats should flourish on poor teams. Hunter, however, still looks like how he was in his last year in Cleveland. The Kings need him to revert to the borderline elite 3&D player he was for the Atlanta Hawks, instead of being a passive, unmotivated corner sitter.
His shooting efficiency may be the most promising part of his play this season. His three-point percentage is nearly identical to his career percentage at 36.8%, and his overall field goal percentage is only slightly down from his career mark, from 44.7% to 42.9%.
So far, Hunter is averaging 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists. These numbers are not ideal and would not make for a prosperous season for Hunter.
Goals for the Rest of De’Andre Hunter’s Season
The NBA regular season is only a little over 10% complete. There is plenty of time for De’Andre Hunter to turn his season around.
There are two things the Kings should hope to accomplish surrounding Hunter: a comeback- if not the best statistical season of his career and to have him just play some decent basketball for the sake of leaving a lingering culture of winning.
De’Andre Hunter does not fit Sacramento’s timeline. He was acquired at a low point in his value, and now his job is to restore it. That would be the best contribution he can make to the Kings organization: making the Keon Ellis trade seem somewhat rational.
If De’Andre Hunter plays great and attracts a couple of phone calls from contenders, and Sacramento gets some assets out of him, that is the ideal situation.
Even though the Sacramento Kings are a bottom-tier team, they have many offensively minded players. But if Hunter can find a way to get the ball and score, maybe have a Brooklyn Nets Mikal Bridges-esque season, that would be an exceptional outcome for the Kings.
The Sacramento Kings also need to play some real basketball. They need to create a competitive environment where Darius Acuff Jr. can observe and practice good habits.
If Hunter can help create that environment and be a real weapon for Acuff to use out there, that would be the best thing he can do for the Kings on the court.
Everything the Sacramento Kings do, in the offices or on the court, should be done with Darius Acuff as the axis. This team revolves around him.
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