LeBron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers this past summer, and it’s safe to say things are going downhill for the reigning four-time Eastern Conference champions. After LeBron departed for Los Angeles in June, Cavs sharpshooter Kyle Korver requested a trade with the belief it would be quickly granted based on a prior agreement. However, Joe Vardon of The Athletic reports Cleveland refused to deal Korver because it believed he could help keep the team afloat and competitive in the East.
The first player Altman ever signed to a contract as GM was Kyle Korver. It was a three-year, $22 million deal inked in July of 2017, but it came with an understanding: If LeBron were to leave, the Cavs would either trade Korver or buy him out of the deal so he could move his family to his next team during the summer. So when LeBron left July 1 for the Lakers, Korver asked for the Cavs to move him. They refused because, they told him, they wanted him to play and for the team to try and win. The same basic message was communicated to Kevin Love before he agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension and to rest of the returning players.
Now that the Cavs are 1-8 and seem to have no shot of being competitive this year, they might want to reconsider Korver’s trade request. The sweet-shooting swingman is at the tail end of his career, thus it’s understandable why he wants to move on from a team that is clearly on the rebuild.
A trade to a contender is the just move for the former All-Star. At this point in his career, Korver would want to have the chance to compete for a championship. He likely won’t just be riding the bench for any title contender as the 16-year veteran offers a 3-point threat to a team that needs added shooting and spacing on the floor.
For the Cavs, it’s safe to say they should embrace a full-on rebuild. Korver no longer has much value for Cleveland as the team is better off developing their younger guys like Collin Sexton, Cedi Osman, Rodney Hood, and Jordan Clarkson.
With how the season is unfolding for the Cavs, they have no choice but to part ways with Korver.