Cavs’ Kyle Korver On Trade Block?

The Cavaliers are looking to move Kyle Korver, Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com writes in his latest round-up of Cavs-related notes and rumors. Ashish Mathur of AmicoHoops.net recently reported that Cleveland was exploring the possibility of trading both Korver and point guard George Hill.

While the Cavs have repeatedly insisted that they have no interest in moving Kevin Love, Korver might make more sense as a potential trade chip. His mid-level salary ($7.56MM) would be easier for a potential suitor to absorb, and there’s no shortage of teams around the NBA that wouldn’t mind adding a shooter of his caliber.

Dealing Korver could also clear a path for the Cavs to lock up Rodney Hood to a new multiyear deal without risking going back into luxury-tax territory. The team currently has about $106.4MM in guaranteed money on its books for 10 players. If Hood were re-signed on a salary of about $10-12MM, it would significantly limit the Cavs’ options as they try to fill out the rest of their roster without crossing the tax threshold.

While Pluto doesn’t provide any specifics on what the Cavs might be looking for in exchange for Korver, Mathur suggests the team would like to acquire draft picks. Cleveland has traded its second-round selections for the next two years, and its 2019 first-rounder will head to Atlanta if it doesn’t land in the top 10, so it makes sense that the Cavs would be looking to restock their supply of picks.

Korver, 37, was his usual effective self from three-point range in 2017/18, averaging 9.2 PPG with a .436 3PT%. The veteran marksman is a career 43.1% shooter from beyond the arc and has averaged 2.5 threes per game over his last six seasons.

Korver is under contract for one more year beyond 2018/19, but his 2019/20 salary ($7.5MM) is only partially guaranteed for $3.44MM.

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