NBA Trade Rumors: De'Andre Hunter Targeted by Cavs; Caris LeVert Linked to Hawks

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly shown interest in Atlanta Hawks forward De'Andre Hunter ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline.

According to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, talks between the Cavs and Hawks regarding Hunter have been focused on veteran guard Caris LeVert going from Cleveland to Atlanta as part of the deal.

On Thursday, NBA insider Marc Stein reported the Cavs have "ramped up their interest and background work" on Hunter in advance of the 3 p.m. ET deadline.

The Cavaliers have the best record in the Eastern Conference and the second-best record in the NBA at 40-10, putting them in prime position to be deadline buyers.

Hunter, 27, was originally the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft out of Virginia, and he is finally starting to live up to that status.

Over his first five NBA seasons in Atlanta, Hunter was a fairly productive player, and he entered this season having averaged 15 points per game or better in three of the previous four campaigns.

Durability has always been an issue for Hunter, though, as he missed 25 or more games in three of the four seasons since his rookie campaign.

Injury concerns have persisted this season, as Hunter has missed 14 of the Hawks' 50 games, but he has put up career-best numbers when on the court.

After primarily being a starter his first five years in the league, Hunter was moved to the bench this season, and he has started only three of the 36 games he has appeared in.

Despite that, Hunter is averaging a career-high 18.9 points and 2.5 three-pointers made per game to go along with 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists. He is also shooting 45.9 percent from the field and a career-best 38.6 percent from beyond the arc.

Perhaps most impressively, Hunter's scoring numbers are way up despite the fact that his 28.5 minutes per game this season are a career low.

The Cavaliers have primarily been carried by their starting lineup this season, as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are All-Stars, while Jarrett Allen is averaging a double-double with 13.8 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Cleveland's top player off the bench this season has been guard Ty Jerome, putting LeVert in more of a seventh man position.

LeVert has been a solid contributor with 10.5 points, 3.8 assists and 2.8 rebounds per contest, but trading him would perhaps open up more playing time for Jerome, while also allowing the Cavs to improve their starting lineup.

The Cavs haven't gotten a ton of production out of their fifth starter this season with Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro and Max Strus all getting some run in that spot, but Hunter could be an ideal fit as a wing player in support of Mitchell, Garland, Mobley and Allen.

Trading LeVert and another piece or two for Hunter would not only help the Cavs this season, but it would be a smart move for the future.

The 30-year-old LeVert is set to hit free agency this coming offseason whereas Hunter is signed through the 2026-27 campaign.

Cleveland has a roster that is young and talented enough to be a top contender this season and for years to come, and Hunter seems as though he would fit in perfectly with the Cavs' timeline.