The Cleveland Cavaliers are battling some injury issues as of late. Mo Williams has yet to report to the team, despite being on the roster after some retirement drama following an offseason surgery. Chris ‘Birdman’ Andersen saw his season come to an end and starting swingman J.R. Smith is expected to be out until after the All-Star break due to a broken thumb.
So what are the Cleveland Cavaliers doing to remedy the problem? Just acquiring one of the best three-point shooters in NBA history. The defending NBA Champions are finalizing a deal to acquire Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks.
Following from Adrian Wojnarowski and Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports.
The world champion Cleveland Cavaliers have reached an agreement on a deal to acquire guard Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks, league sources told The Vertical.
The Cavaliers and Hawks are still finalizing the terms of the trade, with a 2019 first-round pick and Mike Dunleavy Jr. going to Atlanta, league sources said.
The Hawks have been searching for a third team to acquire Dunleavy Jr., but he could park in Atlanta for now, league sources told The Vertical.
UPDATE (January 6, 2017): Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has provided more detail on the trade. The Cavs will ship out both Mo Williams and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Couple of items on the still in flux Kyle Korver trade.
1. Hawks get protected first-round pick (11-30) in 2019. Option to move to 2020.— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
2. Mike Dunleavy Jr. AND Mo Williams will come to Hawks.
3. Expect Ryan Kelly to be waived.— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
Still the possibility that parameters change and Dunleavy and/or Williams get moved.
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
And that might happen. https://t.co/Zjzj3XjGPB
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
No. Not in this deal. https://t.co/Ds3iiuKayi
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
— Chris Vivlamore (@CVivlamoreAJC) January 6, 2017
Kyle Korver spoke about the trade following the Hawks game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday.
“A lot of relationships I care a lot about here and I’m going to miss.” – @KyleKorver on feelings of potential trade from @ATLHawks to Cavs pic.twitter.com/vYikluXWSM
— FOX Sports: Hawks (@HawksOnFSSE) January 6, 2017
It’s obvious that the Dunleavy acquisition has not worked out in Cleveland. He was originally slated to be a reserve wingman who could come in and knock down shots but almost immediately, it was very apparent things weren’t working out. He played a season-high 23 minutes for the Cavs in their season-opener against the Knicks on October 25th and by Thanksgiving, he was getting DNP-CD’s. With injuries mounting, they had to make a move.
Korver, 35, has averaged 9.5 points and shot 40.9 percent from 3-point range in 32 games this season. He was an NBA All-Star in 2015 in the middle of the Atlanta Hawks franchise record 60 win season.
ution
