NBA Trade Grades: Jazz acquire Kyle Korver from Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers had no use for Kyle Korver (or the remaining year on his contract) anymore. They’re a rebuilding team and although the 15-year vet was canning a terrific 46.3 percent of his triples, moving the sharpshooter and getting something in return made the most sense for both parties.
Korver, who was averaging 6.8 points in just 15.7 minutes per game this year, will be replaced with Alec Burks’ 8.4 points in 15.8 minutes per game. Though Burks has never really lived up to the potential he flashed as a double-digit scorer in Utah from 2013-16, he’s still only 27 years old.
His impending status as an unrestricted free agent this summer complicates things, but the Cavs are a team in need of young talent. With Rodney Hood‘s inconsistent play and his future in Cleveland being so uncertain, having another bench guard to evaluate certainly doesn’t hurt.
Rodney Hood when he realizes he has to compete with Burks for playing time again pic.twitter.com/cJrpgxDQFt
— Justin Rowan (@Cavsanada) November 28, 2018
Korver’s salary for next season was non-guaranteed, but it makes more sense to take a look at a young player who will either be cheap to re-sign or fully expendable come free agency. J.R. Smith should be on the way out soon, and even if the Cavs can’t find a deal to move him, his $15.7 million salary for next season is non-guaranteed — as is George Hill‘s $18 million salary.
That could equate to a sizable amount of cap space next summer, and even if Burks amounts to a temporary bench piece, his $11.5 million coming off the books will be welcomed too. With Hill, Hood and Burks all on the Cavs, there are plenty of Jazz jokes to be made, but even in the very worst-case scenario where none of the trio is on the team past this season, at least the two second round picks hold moderate value.
I like Cleveland’s approach of trying to slowly trade for the 2016 promising Jazz.
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) November 28, 2018
If Burks is injured again, not good or it simply looks like he’s on the way out while putting together a contract year audition for other teams, the Cavaliers could always move him before the deadline as well:
The Cavs gave the Hawks a 1st to get Korver that's top 10 protected in '19 and '20. If not conveyed (and it's sure looking like it won't be), it becomes two 2s. They'll get back two 2s from Utah about the time they're conveying two to Atl. Plus whatever they can get now for Burks https://t.co/QSgdDR4s8B
— Jason Lloyd (@ByJasonLloyd) November 29, 2018
The Cavs are one of the worst teams in the NBA and need to evaluate young talent wherever they can find it. Burks is a useful bench piece who may be cheap to re-sign over the summer, and even if he completely flames out, Cleveland did well to send Korver somewhere he could compete, shedding his long-term salary and scooping two second-rounders in the process.
Grade: B