Report: De’Andre Hunter would prefer to start for Cavs

After forward De’Andre Hunter was traded from the Atlanta Hawks to the Cleveland Cavaliers prior to the trade deadline in February, he came off the pine for Cleveland in an overwhelming majority of the games he suited up in. Across 27 regular-season contests and eight playoff games with the Cavaliers, he logged just five starts combined.

However, Hunter may be hoping for an upgraded role in his first full season in a Cavaliers uniform. Per Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, he would prefer to be a member of Cleveland’s opening lineup and start.

“I think we’re at a point where De’Andre Hunter is going to start,” he said. “I think he’s going to be the starting small forward. I think Kenny [Atkinson] believes in him that way. I think Kenny wants De’Andre to play more 3 than 4 this year. And Kenny and De’Andre had a conversation when they were out together in Los Angeles, and one of the topics of that conversation was, ‘Would you prefer to start or come off the bench?’ And I’m told that De’Andre let it be known that he would prefer to start.”

At the very least, Hunter is likely the best candidate to be in the starting lineup to fill in for forward Max Strus, who is set to be sidelined for an extended stretch thanks to a Jones fracture in his left foot. Strus has served as Cleveland’s starting small forward for much of the last two seasons.

Hunter has ample experience playing a starting role at the highest level, and those reps have him well-prepared for a larger role with the Cavaliers in the coming season. The 27-year-old has actually started the lion’s share of the 327 regular-season games he’s played in during his career, as he’s logged 246 starts.

He also has the offensive skill set needed to more or less fill Strus’ shoes in his absence. Like Strus, Hunter has enjoyed a lot of success from beyond the 3-point line. He shot an impressive 40.5 percent from deep on 6.1 attempts per game with the Hawks and Cavs last season.

However, whether Hunter should remain the Cavaliers’ starting small forward after Strus is healthy enough to return to the lineup is a more complicated question. Strus has familiarity in the role, but if Hunter begins the season in the starting lineup and proves to be a good fit there, there might be no reason to go away from it. Fedor’s report may indicate that Hunter is on track to play the role regardless of Strus’ status.

Atkinson will likely make the decision to start Hunter at the small forward spot when the Cavaliers begin their season against the New York Knicks on Oct. 22, and if so, hopefully the 27-year-old will play the role admirably.