Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley winning the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award triggered a clause in his contract that calls for him to increase the first-year salary of his rookie-scale extension from 25 to 30% of the salary cap.
As a result, the Cavaliers are now projected to have $219 million in salary for the 2025-26 season and be over the second apron.
To get under the second apron, Rob Perez of Bleacher Report proposed that the Cavaliers trade De’Andre Hunter and multiple second-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Cameron Johnson.
Hunter will make $23,303,571 next season, while Johnson will make $20,543,478.
The Cavaliers acquired Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks. Hunter appeared in 27 games with Cleveland in the 2024-25 regular season. He averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while shooting 48.5% from the field, 42.6% from 3 and 82.1% from the foul line.
Cleveland defeated the Miami Heat in the first round of the 2025 playoffs but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round. Hunter averaged 11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in the 2025 postseason while shooting 42.9% overall, 46.2% from 3 and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
The Cavaliers were interested in acquiring Johnson before trading for Hunter. Johnson averaged 18.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists for the Nets this season while shooting 47.5% from the field, 39.0% from beyond the arc and 89.3% from the free-throw line.
The Nets missed the playoffs this year. Johnson has appeared in 38 postseason games with the Phoenix Suns and Nets. He made the 2021 NBA Finals with the Suns.
Hunter, 27, has career averages of 14.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 327 games with the Hawks and Cavaliers.
Meanwhile, Johnson, 29, has career averages of 12.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 340 games with the Suns and Nets.
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