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Kyle Korver: Maybe sharpshooters aren’t so valuable to contenders

By Doug Patrick

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - DECEMBER 30: Kyle Korver #26 of the Cleveland Cavaliers gestures to the officials in the second half of their 104-101 loss to the Utah Jazz at Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 30, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr./Getty Images) /
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SACRAMENTO, CA – DECEMBER 27: Kyle Korver #26 and J.R. Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA – DECEMBER 27: Kyle Korver #26 and J.R. Smith #5 of the Cleveland Cavaliers look on during the game against the Sacramento Kings on December 27, 2017 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The Cleveland Cavaliers should trade Kyle Korver to a contender, Right?

KJG’s co-expert, Nathan Beighle, recently wrote an article in which he proposed three trades for Kyle Korver. The teams involved: the Thunder, the 76ers, and the Rockets. He seems to believe that a Korver trade makes the most sense with a contender meaning the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t a contender.

For a while, I felt the same way. He’s a floor spacer for rim-attackers, a highly reliable shooter on kick-outs, and elite at running through screens. He’d be the perfect role player for elite playmakers like Russell Westbrook, Ben Simmons, and James Harden, right?

Maybe not…

But then I started thinking about the Finals last month and then the Finals from the year before. How efficient was Korver in them?

Against the Warriors in 2017, Korver made only five three-pointers through all five games (5/16). In 2018, he made only one in four games (1/11).

If a team envisions themselves as true contenders, capable of knocking off the Dubs, then should they seriously consider someone who can be completely neutralized by them?