Report: Cleveland Cavaliers looking for suitors for Kyle Korver

The Cleveland Cavaliers are probably going to go with their youth from here on out in the 2018-19 season, and Kyle Korver reportedly being on the trade block is yet another example of that.

According to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Adrian Wojnarowski, veteran sharpshooter Kyle Korver is being shopped by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Korver is 37, and does not warrant starting minutes at this point in his career. He still does have some trade value, though, considering he’s fourth all-time in three pointers made, and seems like a model teammate.

Korver is not a player who’s going to knock anyone’s socks off as a trade acquisition, but his shooting ability from deep and the spacing he provides for a contending team makes him a notable trade piece.

He’s only averaged 5.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 15.2 minutes per game in this young season, but he’s going to be efficient in his minutes. Korver has struggled from the perimeter so far with a three-point hit rate of only 33.3 percent, but his overall effective field goal hit rate of 60.4 percent is a more accurate metric for his accuracy.

Against the Detroit Pistons, Korver had 21 points, including 16 points in the fourth quarter alone, and that brought the Cavaliers back in the game, combined with Jordan Clarkson and Collin Sexton‘s second unit playmaking.

Korver’s a guy that’s going to do whatever he can to set a good example for younger players on his team, and he’s more than willing to teach players the tricks of his trade when it comes to shooting the basketball. Cedi Osman has reportedly adjusted his shooting mechanics to mimic Korver’s release, just as a reference point.

Korver has also shown good passing vision throughout his career, and that’s gotten bigs such as Larry Nance Jr. and Tristan Thompson easy baskets after defenders are afraid to not commit extra attention to get out on Korver coming off screens.

That makes his presence even more meaningful on a team hoping to contend in the postseason, such as the Philadelphia 76ers, who have reportedly been linked to Korver on and off in the last few months, as they could use another dead-eye shooter to keep the floor spaced properly when J.J. Redick is out of the game.

Windhorst and Wojnarowski broke down J.R. Smith‘s situation with the Cavaliers is up in the air due to lack of playing time, (and it seems as though he doesn’t want to be in Cleveland much longer), and touched on how Korver is already being shopped. It’s hard to see both being in Cleveland much longer, frankly.

"“For the second time this season, Smith was informed he would be removed from the rotation and not receive guaranteed playing time, sources said. Smith was upset by the news and considered taking time away from the team, sources said. Smith decided to stay for the time being, but he didn’t play in Tuesday night’s 136-114 win over the Atlanta Hawks.Meanwhile, the Cavs have initiated testing the trade market for guard Kyle Korver in the past several days, sources said. There was some trade interest in Korver last summer, and the Cavs are circling back on those talks.”"

Along with that, Windhorst and Wojnarowski added to look for other veterans to be on the trade block, too.

"“The Cavs could become more active in looking to trade other veteran players in the coming weeks, sources said.”"

A veteran such as George Hill, who, like Korver and Smith, doesn’t have a fully guaranteed contract in the 2019-20 season, could be a name in that category as well. With Kevin Love potentially being out for a “month-plus,” due to a reported toe injury (per Windhorst and Wojnarowski), this is just another sign that the 2018-19 season could be for youngsters getting game experience, and not getting W’s.

If a veteran as valuable as Korver now is being shopped, I would expect the Cleveland Cavaliers to go in full tank mode for the rest of this season to keep their 1-10 protected first-round pick from the Atlanta Hawks, no matter what the PR message is.