After this morning’s shootaround in Salt Lake City, Utah, Cleveland Cavaliers Head Coach, Tyronn Lue, spoke to members of the media with regards to the availability of his team’s newest addition, Kyle Korver.
Assuming that Kyle (Korver) is available tonight, will you play him?”
Coach Lue gave a quick but direct response.
Yes, sir.”
What would you expect to see from Kyle, having never been on the floor with you guys?,” asked the reporter.
Lue, shaking his head, replied with another brief response.
I don’t know.”
Just going in blind?,” asked the reporter.
Who is?,” Lue asked with a raised eyebrow.
You,” said the reporter.
Lue, brushing the question aside with a shrug, replied with quick grin:
Alright.”
How many minutes would you want to play him (Korver)?,” the reporter asked.
It depends on the flow of the game,” Lue replied with a lighter demeanor. “You know, if he’s available to play, we’re going to play him minutes, so we’ll see how it goes.”
How does his skill set fit in with what you guys intend to do?,” asked another reporter.
I mean, well, we’re a team that, you know, looks to push the ball in transition, spread the floor, and shoot three’s,” Lue replied. “So, I mean, with him being one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history, you know, I think he fits in well with what we’re trying to do. You know, taking his open shots. But he also gives us another weapon as far as using him off screens, off pin-downs, you can run him around to give us some movement, so it’s a great addition for us.”
It sounds like Korver may see playing time sooner rather than later. The 6’7″ swingman’s accuracy at range and ability to shoot off of screens should indeed be a perfect fit in Coach Lue’s plans. Korver, 35, is averaging 9.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.3 assists (44.1% FG, 40.9% 3PFG) in 27.9 minutes per game. Further bolstering his appeal, the former Creighton Blue Jay stand-out is ranked eighth on the NBA’s all-time leading three-point field goals made list (1,952), eighth in percentage (42.8), and 13th in attempts (4,554).
Tip-off for tonight’s Cavs-Jazz match-up inside The Vivint Smart Home Arena is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EST on Fox Sports Ohio.