Cleveland Cavaliers: Cavs’ return in Kyle Korver trade is a positive sign

The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz, and their return was a positive in terms of what’s to come down the road.

The Cleveland Cavaliers know at this point that they need to start fully rebuilding; the team is 4-15, and veterans such as Kyle Korver, George Hill and J.R. Smith (who’s reportedly not an active member of the Cavs, per The Athletic’s Joe Vardon) were key trade pieces going into the 2018-19 season given that all three have non-guaranteed contracts in the 2019-20 season. Now, Korver is the first to be shipped out of Cleveland, in a trade in which he went to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Alec Burks and two future second-round picks, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman and Korver reportedly had an agreement, per the aforementioned Vardon (subscription required), that had LeBron James left in free agency in the summer of 2018, that Korver would be traded or bought out before the 2018-19 season. That didn’t end up happening before the season, but now, Korver will ultimately be able to play for a relevant team in the Jazz, instead of being on the rebuilding Cavs.

Korver, though 37, is still capable of being a key bench contributor on a contender, given his shooting ability from the perimeter and the spacing he provides other players by making the fourth-most three-point shots all-time (and doing so on a lifetime 43.2 percent clip).

This season, Korver has still done pretty well with 6.8 points (on an effective field goal percentage of 62.5) and 1.8 rebounds, despite playing just 15.7 minutes per game, which is the lowest minutes average of his career outside of his rookie season with the Philadelphia 76ers (11.9, per Basketball Reference).

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Korver had reportedly been in trade rumors for a while now, and with the Cavs sending him to Utah for Burks and two future second-round picks, I’ll take that.

The Jazz will welcome Korver’s three-point shooting and veteran presence with open arms; Korver actually was on the Jazz for three seasons earlier in his career as well, and he could give them an added spark in spurts for the postseason if they get there (which I believe they will).

Burks, another shooting guard Cleveland may or may not deploy in their rotation, has averaged 8.4 points on 41.2 percent shooting and 1.6 rebounds in 15.8 minutes per game this season.

He’s had an up-and-down career with the Jazz, but I would imagine the key reason the Cavs had to have targeted Burks is his contract.

He’s making over $11.5 million this season, per Spotrac, but his contract expires after this season. Combined with the two future 2’s for a 37-year-old Korver that could provide the Cleveland Cavaliers with solid developmental project pieces, I’ll take it.

The Cavs got outstanding efficiency from Korver in his time in Cleveland, and I wish him the best the rest of the way. This trade isn’t a splash, but I’m more than okay with Cleveland starting to stockpile future assets.