By far the biggest news of the week in the NBA is the Cleveland Cavaliers acquiring Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Mo Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Jr., a protected first round pick, and cash. For the Atlanta Hawks, this is clearly a sign that they are looking to rebuild and free up as much cap space as possible. Mo Williams hasn't played all season due to a knee injury while Mike Dunleavy, Jr. is averaging 4.6 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. This move is all about the future for the Atlanta Hawks, who are starting to waive the white flag for the season amid rumors that they may also trade Paul Millsap.
For the Cleveland Cavaliers, this is all about fortifying their bench as much as possible in hopes of making another deep run to the NBA Finals. With J.R. Smith going out for 3+ months due to thumb surgery, the Cavaliers felt the need to make a move for another sharpshooter, making Kyle Korver an ideal target.
Even though he is in his 14th season in the NBA, Kyle Korver is still very good at what he does best, which is shooting. He is averaging 9.5 points per game on 44.1% shooting from the field, 40.9% shooting from beyond the arc, and 88.9% shooting from the foul line. In a league that gives much more attention to the three-point shooting of Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry, Kyle Korver is quietly continuing to be one of the top shooters the NBA has ever seen.
As far as what this move means for the Cavaliers, it has both short-term and long-term effects. From a short-term standpoint, Kyle Korver helps fill the void left by J.R. Smith, who while erratic and kind of crazy, is still one who can put up points in bunches. With Kyle Korver on board, the Cavaliers should worry a lot less about how they will survive without their three-point barraging wild man.
As far as long-term effects go, this just gives the Cavaliers one more three-point shooter to combat a Golden State Warriors team that is filled with great shooters. Even though the playoffs haven't started and won't start until April, the Cavaliers are already thinking about June as they should. Hell, the Warriors have been thinking about June since July when they went out and got Kevin Durant, so perhaps the Cavaliers are a little bit late to the party in terms of making big moves for June!
The Cavaliers know that against the Golden State Warriors, should they meet in the NBA Finals, they'll need all the weapons they can get from an offensive standpoint. By adding Kyle Korver, the Cavaliers get another guy who can cause problems from beyond the arc and help them keep up with the Warriors' lights out shooting. Plus, maybe the Cavaliers were hearing that Kyle Korver was on the market and feared that the Warriors may make a move for him. This move could be as much about playing keep away from the Warriors as it is about improving their roster.
When looking at this trade from both a short-term and long-term perspective, it is clear that this is a fabulous move by the Cleveland Cavaliers. They are getting a player who can help them put up points while J.R. Smith is out and also give them more depth and shooting for the playoffs. LeBron James has to be delighted to have a guy like Kyle Korver around. If I am giving this trade a grade, I'm giving it an A+ for the Cavaliers and a C+ for the Hawks. This move absolutely makes the Cavaliers a much more dangerous team while as for the Hawks, I'm still not convinced blowing up their team is the right move.
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