The Sacramento Kings didn't get a lot done before the trade deadline, but they did manage to move three players while bringing in De'Andre Hunter. One person who is already happy with the new King is head coach Doug Christie as he appreciates Hunter's capable focus on defense.
De'Andre Hunter is "excited for the new opportunity" in Sacramento.
— Brenden Nunes (@BrendenNunesNBA) February 3, 2026
Doug Christie said "watching him on the defensive end makes me smile" and is looking forward to his pairing with Keegan Murray.
Quotes from Hunter's first day of practice:https://t.co/5zaj10ORqM
While the Kings went into trade season with some incredibly lofty goals, anyone who pays attention to the NBA knew the players Sacramento needed to move the most were going to be the toughest to trade. The Kings hold two of the worst contracts in the NBA, and need them gone.
Regardless, the front office did manage to put together a respectable three-team trade involving Chicago and Cleveland. The Kings got De'Andre Hunter, the Cavaliers ended up with Keon Ellis, Dennis Schroder, and Emanuel Miller, and the Bulls briefly had Dario Saric before sending to Detroit.
quick message from De'Andre 🤳 pic.twitter.com/Z4AUM4ulMV
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 4, 2026
Hunter appears to be happy for the move, but it's also unlikely that he's going to trash talk his new team on social media. He's probably aware of the Kings' situation and the fact that he's joining the them on the ground floor of a major rebuild. At least Sacramento seems to be happy that he's there.
De'Andre Hunter is Doug Christie's kind of player
As everyone knows by this point in the season, Christie's primary focus as the Kings' head coach is to develop a consistent defensive presence for the team. They have been lacking in that department for years, though there has been progress this season. Hopefully, Hunter can help that move forward.
After Hunter's first practice with the team, Christie commented on how happy he was to see De'Andre's work on the defensive end. Given Doug's focus, this comes as absolutely no surprise to anyone. He should also be happy with how Hunter's first game as a King went.
Hunter entered as the starting power forward, playing 26+ minutes. He finished with nine points, two rebounds, and one assist, shooting only three for 11 from the field. Two of those three made field goals were from beyond the arc, thought. He also played relatively well on defense.
It's going to take time for Hunter to find his legs with the Kings and get into a rhythm with them, assuming the team can find a rhythm in the first place. Regardless, early indications are that he will add to the Kings' defensive presence. Hopefully, it pans out that way,