Breaking down the trade between Cavs, Kings, Bulls

It’s not yet official, but the agreement is in place. And the Cavaliers’ three-team trade with the Kings and Bulls should be announced within a day or two.

To make the mechanics work, the Bulls are sending two-way forward Emanuel Miller to the Cavs, as relayed first by Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune. Cleveland will waive two-way wing Luke Travers to create the necessary roster space.

Here’s how the full deal shakes out:

Cavaliers

• Keon Ellis from Sacramento.
• Dennis Schroder from Sacramento.
• Emanuel Miller from Chicago.
• Waive Luke Travers.

Bulls

• Dario Saric from Sacramento.
• Two second-round picks.
• Waive Jevon Carter to complete the deal.

Kings

• De’Andre Hunter from Cleveland
• Open a roster spot with plans to promote Dylan Cardwell from his two-way deal.

Miller gives the Cavs a replacement two-way forward after moving on from Travers, who spent most of his time with the G League’s Charge.

Cleveland’s standard roster will be full once the trade becomes official, which complicates matters for Nae’Qwan Tomlin, who is nearing the NBA’s 50-game limit for two-way players.

As Keith Smith of Spotrac noted, the Cavs are still expected to promote Tomlin to a standard contract, whether through another trade or a post-deadline roster move.

Bottom line: This was not just a Hunter trade. It was a roster reshuffle, a cap exercise, and a short-term puzzle that the Cavs are still actively working through.