Korver to Cleveland
Man, the rich keep getting richer. In a deal first reported by The Vertical the Atlanta Hawks are sending Kyle Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Mo Williams, Mike Dunleavy, and a first found pick. What does this mean?
There is no downside for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Kyle Korver deal https://t.co/IZvbW0pMkj
— The Ringer (@ringer) January 6, 2017
The Cavaliers will have an ungodly amount of shooting. The crunch time lineup for the Cavs is Kyrie Irving, J.R. Smith, Kyle Korver, LeBron James, and Kevin Love. Or maybe Tristan Thompson, or Richard Jefferson, or Channing Frye. Even the bench unit for Cleveland is going to be scary. Insert either Kyrie or LeBron for shot creation/passing and all of the sudden your bench is Kyrie, Shumpert, Korver, Jefferson/James Jones and Frye.
All of those aforementioned guys represent the new NBA. Space; not Space Jam. Spacing. Korver is one of the best shooting forwards in the game. Kevin Love is one of the best shooting power forwards in the game. Channing Frye is one of the best shooting centers in the game. J.R. Smith is one of the best shooting guards in the game. If the lanes weren't wide enough for LeBron and Kryie to drive in to get to the hoop, well now they just added another lane to their prolific highway. What else does Korver bring?
A multitude of "things". He's an underrated defender, great shot blocker (given his position), he gives back to his community through community service, an 87% free throw shooter, he's durable, he's 6'7, and he was an all-star last year. Oh and he also does shit like this.
For basketball Korver is going to be yet another outlet for Kyrie and LeBron to pass. Kyrie and LeBron are so good at finishing at the rim the defense is going to collapse in an attempt to stop them. At this point Kyrie or LeBron will kick the ball out to Korver. Or Smith. Or Love. Or Frye. Not only are all of those guys excellent shooters, but if the defense recovers and attempts a close out on them, those guys can whip the ball around the arc to each other, or back to LeBron inside.
Shooters fit in everywhere, bad teams, good teams, inside and out. Korver is another option on the off chance that Smith, Love, Frye and whomever else is having an off night. LeBron notices Smith is 0-4, well, send the next pass to Korver then!
The above video was taken in 2015. I don't know if it's the mask but Korver was hotter than a hot pocket coming out of the microwave. Not only can he make shots, but he also has gravity. The defense will be forced to respect him bending in ways which Kyrie and LeBron will inevitably break. When you watch the video watch Korver's effort in transition. He sprints down the court, he takes an extra dribble, he comes off screens, he can make the shorts when he's open or contested, he's special.
I'm excited to see Korver in Cleveland. I think it's a good thing for basketball, I think it'll be entertaining, and I think it makes the Cavs more dangerous when it comes to the Finals match up with Golden State. I think this is the beginning of the end for Atlanta. I do expect Millsap to get traded. I think Atlanta blows it up, they may even deal Howard. I think the only player with a safe job there is Schroder. But enough about Atlanta. Did the rich get richer? Yes. But hey, this is sports, this is entertainment. Let's sit back and appreciate what the future holds. I can't wait for that finals match up.
