NBA Trade Grades: Cleveland Cavaliers Add Kyle Korver
Atlanta Hawks
On the one hand, the Hawks can’t feel particularly “good” about this deal. It signals the beginning of the end, with only one starter — Millsap — remaining from the 2014-15 team that won 60 games, made it to the conference finals and whose starting five was awarded with Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors.
With Korver gone, plus Millsap and Sefolosha being made available prior to their upcoming free agencies (Millsap will most likely opt out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent), the Hawks are ready to blow things up just months after signing hometown star Dwight Howard to a three-year, $70.5 million deal.
Considering that came just weeks after losing Al Hoford to the Boston Celtics, trading Jeff Teague to the Indiana Pacers and being swept in the playoffs by the Cavaliers for the second straight year, it’s safe to say the outlook in Atlanta has gotten awfully dreary, awfully fast.
That being said, it’s probably the most prudent course of action for a team that no longer had a chance of competing with Cleveland, Toronto or Boston in the East. Though the Hawks currently occupy the fourth playoff spot in the East, their 20-16 record isn’t particularly inspiring, especially after a 1-10 stretch followed their promising 9-2 start.
The Korver move signifies an inevitable fire sale to ensure the Hawks cash in on their current assets and jumpstart a much-needed rebuild. It’s the smartest path for a franchise that’s straddled this line for years now, but it’s not exactly an enjoyable one for fans either.
At 35 years old, Korver is clearly in his twilight years. He was moved to bench duty for Mike Budenholzer this season, and was averaging 9.5 points per game on .441/.409/.889 shooting splits — efficient numbers, but a far cry from his All-Star season in 2014-15, when he averaged 12.1 points per game on scorching hot .487/.492/.898 shooting.
To that end, getting a future first round pick of any kind — even from a team projected to finish near the top of the East for the foreseeable future — is a win. Mo Williams isn’t expected to be a part of Atlanta’s future despite their need for a backup point guard, and the Hawks can take or leave Dunleavy either way since his 2017-18 salary is non-guaranteed.
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The J-Notes
The Hawks had to waive Ryan Kelly to make room for this trade, but they could release Williams and sign Kelly back on if they so choose. This deal sending away Korver also frees up more time for rookies DeAndre’ Bembry and Taurean Prince on the wing.
The real gain here is the top-10 protected pick in 2019, when LeBron James will be 34 years old and the Cavs might start showing signs of weakness. It won’t be a lottery pick, but a first-rounder for a 35-year-old like Korver is a solid gain.
The problem will be what comes next. Woj has already reported Millsap is next on the Hawks’ trade docket, and there will be plenty of suitors for him. Dwight Howard’s reaction to the Korver trade wasn’t exactly encouraging, and it’s entirely possible he’s put on the trade market as well for a full-blown rebuild.
The next few weeks will be painful for the Hawks faithful, especially after dealing Korver to the team that Atlanta put so much energy into trying to beat. But this was the first, necessary step that the franchise needed, and getting a first for Korver is also a victory even if it’s not until 2019.
Grade: B-