A player linked to the Celtics ahead of the NBA trade deadline is joining one of Boston’s Eastern Conference rivals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers landed guards Keon Ellis and Dennis Schroder in a three-team trade that sent wing De’Andre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings and big man Dario Saric and two second-round draft picks to the Chicago Bulls, according to multiple reports Saturday night.
Ellis, a fourth-year pro who was coming off the bench for Sacramento, had been rumored as a possible target for the Celtics before Saturday’s deal. NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Boston was among “several teams” interested in the 26-year-old 3-and-D guard. James Ham of the Locked on Kings podcast also listed Boston as one of the suitors for Ellis.
The 6-foot-4 Ellis ranks in the 95th percentile or better for his position in block and steal percentage this season, per Cleaning the Glass, and is a career 41.6% 3-point shooter.
Schroder, an NBA journeyman who’s appeared in games for 10 different franchises, spent part of the 2021-22 season in Boston.
Ellis’ final game with the Kings was against the Celtics on Friday night. He tallied six points, two rebounds, two blocks and a steal in Sacramento’s 112-93 loss at TD Garden. Schroder had two points on 1-of-11 shooting in that game. They’ll now join a Cavs team that has underachieved thus far, sitting fifth in the East standings as of Sunday after entering the season as conference favorites.
The NBA trade deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET on Thursday. Since Brad Stevens assumed his current role as the Celtics’ president of basketball operations in 2021, the team has made at least one move ahead of every trade deadline, most recently shipping reserve guard Jaden Springer to Houston last year in a salary dump.
Most of this year’s Celtics-related trade rumors have linked Boston to frontcourt players who could shore up a position group currently headlined by Neemias Queta and Luka Garza, both of whom are enjoying career-best seasons. Among them: Ivica Zubac, Jaren Jackson Jr., Daniel Gafford, Yves Missi, Day’Ron Sharpe and ex-Celtic Robert Williams III.
