5 Teams That Should Trade For Kyle Korver
By Jon Shames
2.) Cleveland Cavaliers
Though their schedule has been easy, the Cleveland Cavaliers have looked decent since deciding to part ways with David Blatt. The team has won eight of its last 10, with one of the losses coming on a buzzer-beating three from the Celtics’ Avery Bradley.
Still, while Cleveland has played well, they are only three games ahead of the Toronto Raptors for the top spot in the East, and thus, will be looking to add some pieces before the deadline. One name they’ve been connected to? Kyle Korver, of course.
Windhorst: I have heard the #Cavs have had interest in Kyle Korver as well. Hawks could be selling off pieces.
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) February 9, 2016
Like any LeBron-led team, the Cavaliers attempt a lot of three pointers. They are fifth in long-ball attempts per game, and convert them at the 10th-best rate in the league. But for an offense that is designed around a famed steamroller in James, the more kick-out options, the better.
What’s not shown in the proposed deal is Cleveland sending a 2016 2nd-rounder (via LAC) to Atlanta. Cleveland, in win-now mode more than maybe any team in the league, will have little use for a late second-rounder. Should Atlanta go ahead and enter a rebuild, they may have an open roster spot.
Trading away Iman Shumpert would be a hit for Cleveland’s defense. Replacing him with Korver, however, would exponentially increase the explosiveness of the Cavaliers’ offense.
As it stands now, it doesn’t appear that the Cavaliers have a shot at taking down the Warriors in the NBA Finals, because the Cavs — like every other team in the NBA — simply cannot compete with Golden State’s other-worldly offense.
Korver, much like Stephen Curry, is the type of player who can heat up fast, and turn a five-point deficit into a 10-point lead in two minutes. Pairing him in the backcourt with another explosive scorer in Kyrie Irving would be a nightmare for the opposition, and really improve the offense.
Korver’s shot fake is also deadly, which would fair well in Cleveland’s offense. If Korver could get his defender off the ground with a fake, take one dribble in, pull help-side defenders, and then find the open man (usually one pass away, thanks to Cleveland’s perimeter-heavy system), it would open up a lot for the Cavaliers.
In all reality, Cleveland’s management should be focused on beating Golden State in the inevitable Finals rematch. There’s not a defense on earth (1995-96 Bulls??????) that could stop this Warriors attack, so your best bet to combat their runs is to come back with explosive offense. Korver — as he did for Atlanta last year — is one of the few that could bring the Cavaliers to that level.
Next: No. 1