De’Andre Hunter is ready for his new opportunity with the Cavs: ‘I consider myself a winner’

Hunter is only hoping to add to the good thing the Cavaliers have going.

The trade deadline is a chaotic time for everyone in the league. Especially if you’re one of the players moved. De’Andre Hunter, the newest member of the Cleveland Cavaliers, is feeling that now as he’s spent the last few days trying to get acclimated to his new surroundings.

For now, that includes living in a hotel room.

“I don’t want to stay there too long, but I probably will have to,” Hunter said after his first practice with the team on Sunday. “I’m sure Ty [Jerome] wouldn’t mind me sleeping over a couple nights so I’ll probably have to do that. But you know it’s definetely tough, especially in the middle of the season.”

Being reunited with Jerome, his friend and former teammate in college, should help make that transition as smooth as possible. That was the first person who called him after Atlanta Hawks general manager Landry Fields told him he was being moved to Cleveland.

“We’ve been talking about playing together for years,” Hunter said of Jerome. “For it to actually come together and to actually happen, especially at a place like this, it’s amazing. So I’m definetely excited.”

The next step is getting Hunter up to speed so that he can fit into what the Cavs are doing on the court. That is a process that takes time.

For head coach Kenny Atkinson, that begins with just getting to know who Hunter is as a person.

“I think the first days are [about] building relationships,” Atkinson said after Hutner’s first practice. “How’s your family? Is your family here? We talked a little tactics today. ... It’s more getting to really understand them as people first. ... I just want to get to know him better as a person.”

Atkinson believes that it takes a player three or four games to feel comfortable in a new system and about 15 for the coaching staff to adjust.

“We obviously have the analytics of what they’re good at, but you have to, as a coach, you have to feel it, see how you can best use them in a team setting,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson didn’t reveal whether Hunter would start or come off the bench immediately. Only that we will see him on the court Monday against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Hunter stated that he doesn’t have a preference as to whether he starts or continues coming off the bench like he did in Atlanta.

“If I’m on the court, whether it’s starting, coming off the bench, I feel like I can make an impact,” Hunter said. “You already had a good thing going [with the Cavs] so I’m not trying to mess any of the vibes or anything up. I’m just trying to help.”

Hunter’s positional versatility is a positive for both Atkinson and Koby Altman. He’s split time playing the three and four throughout his career and has shifted up to guarding centers when needed.

“I’m a player,” Hunter said when asked about whether he sees himself as more of a small or power forward. “I don’t have a position. If I’m on the court, I can make plays. I don’t really like to define myself to a three or a four.”

There will be an adjustment period for Hunter. His skill set as a shooter combined with his size and versatility on the defensive end should help him assimilate quickly.

“I’m gonna play hard every night,” Hunter said. “I’m gonna give it my all. You never got to worry about my effort. I’m gonna be ready to go every night.”

Getting moved at the deadline and trying to fit into a new team can be a difficult challenge. Hunter isn’t alone in midseason transitions like this. Those transitions are made easier when you know that you have a chance to win as Hunter does with the Cavaliers.

“Coming from Atlanta, we had down years, we had good years, but here, I think it’s kind of expected to win,” Hunter said. “That’s something I pride myself on because I consider myself a winner. So I think that would be the biggest thing that I’m excited for.”