Rumors: Cavs exploring trades for veterans George Hill, Kyle Korver

The Cleveland Cavaliers are exploring trades for veterans George Hill and Kyle Korver.

According to basketball insider Sam Amico of Amico Hoops, the Cleveland Cavaliers have held trade talks centered around two veterans in 32-year-old point guard George Hill and 37-year-old Kyle Korver.

"The Cavs have held trade talks centered on Hill and Korver, league sources told Amico Hoops, but most of those talks have reached an end for now. That includes the reported conversations that would have sent Korver to Philadelphia for point guard Jerryd Bayless."

Amico Hoops first reported the Cavaliers’ interest in moving Hill and Korver on July 5th, shortly after free agency began.

That the Cleveland Cavaliers have interest in moving Korver and Hill, two of the oldest players on their roster, is unsurprising.

For one, they’re questionable fits for the Cavs’ rebuild (or reset) because they’re taking playing time from younger counterparts that need to develop. In addition, and especially at their age, they’ll likely desire the possibility of winning a championship ring rather than playing babysitter for the kids in Cleveland.

After all, though his production and health were shaky to start the season, Hill was also available in trade talks because of his dissatisfaction with the team’s unrealistic playoff hopes. Upon arriving in Cleveland, Hill would cite the Cavaliers’ status as a championship-contender as one of the primary reasons he was excited about suiting up for the Wine and Gold.

It’s unclear how much Hill, who averaged 9.4 points (on true shooting percentage of 55.1) and 2.8 assists per game as a Cav, wants to be in Cleveland now.

Hill is going to be a valuable veteran point guard for Cavs rookie Collin Sexton to learn from. Furthermore, while his playmaking was unspectacular in Cleveland, it was often timely; he can help the team win games.

Nonetheless, he’s getting paid $19 million next season and he’s not worth that much to the Cavs. Trading Hill, and he’s going to want to be traded to a playoff shoo-in, could result in a package of mid-level salary rotation players to arrive in Cleveland.

As for Korver, there are up-and-coming championship-contenders like the Boston Celtics (per Sam Amico of Amico Hoops) and Philadelphia 76ers (per Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer) who want to acquire him.

Korver, who will earn $7.6 million this season (and $7.5 million next season with only $3.4 million guaranteed), has one of the most trade-friendly contracts on the Cavaliers’ roster.

As an all-time great three-point shooter (fourth-most threes of all time with 2,213 on a career three-point shooting percentage of 43.1), a highly praised professional and an alert team defender, even at an advanced age, Korver still holds solid value.

While 29-year-old point guard Jerryd Bayless (who averaged 7.9 points and 1.4 assists per game last season) could be the main piece in a trade to the Sixers, the Cavaliers have a chance to acquire one of the Celtics’ four first-round picks in 2019 by trading him to Beantown.

For both Korver and the Cavs, a trade to the Celtics could be preferable.

In Boston, Korver can play for master tactician in Celtics head coach Brad Stevens and a championship-contender that badly needs an elite catch-and-shoot threat with Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Terry Rozier excelling as on-ball playmakers. In Philadelphia, where Korver made his NBA debut fifteen years ago, he would have the same role just for a team without as many playmakers.

The Cavaliers’ on-court product could be better with Hill and Korver in-tow but developing their younger counterparts and investing in the future of the franchise is the team’s priority.

I wouldn’t mind sticking it out with the veterans for the season so that the young Cavs could get valuable mentorship and then trading Hill or Korver when their contracts are partially guaranteed, which would make them more tradable.

If Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Kevin Love decides he doesn’t want to stick around for a rebuild though, I would expect each of he, Hill and Korver to be traded to new teams by the trade deadline.

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*All stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com