How should the Philadelphia 76ers approach a potential Kyle Korver trade?
As the Cleveland Cavaliers explore Kyle Korver trades, the Philadelphia 76ers should be among the top suitors. His fit is obvious, both in the locker room and on the court, giving the Sixers another veteran wing who can space the floor for Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
Brett Brown’s offense is rooted in pace and space. Much like J.J. Redick, Korver is able to drag defenders through countless screens due to his endless off-ball movement, seldom sticking in one spot.
He moves to open space and doesn’t stop the ball, which keeps his defender occupied and often leads to other breakdowns for the opposing defense. Playing next to a budding post-up passer and one of the best facilitators in the league, Korver would be well-equipped for success.
Korver being on the open market also opens up some other possibilities for the Sixers. With 16 players currently under contract (and Jonah Bolden expected to join that group), the front office will need to trim down the roster. Trading for Korver could help them do so.
The Cavs aren’t openly tanking, but shedding Korver could be the first step in what inevitably becomes a rebuild. That means bad/expiring contracts and long-term assets are what Koby Altman and company will be searching for.
The Sixers can offer both with relative ease. Rather than buying Bayless out, they can ship him to Cleveland to match salaries.
That offers Cleveland financial flexibility next summer, while a second-round pick (or two) can be added on to sweeten the pot. If the Cavs end up requesting a heavily protected first-round pick, that’s also something the Sixers should be willing to consider. Korver is that valuable for a team looking to make the Finals.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot or Furkan Korkmaz, depending on how the Sixers value their former first-round picks, are other names that could be on the table.
Korver has two years left on his contract, though the second year is only partially guaranteed. That means the Sixers can still clear extra cap space in 2019 if needed. With that said, $7.5 million per season is a bargain price for what Korver provides.
The main concern with Korver is his age. At 36, he’s a defensive liability who’s quickly approaching retirement. His game isn’t one that relies on athleticism, though — as long as his shots are falling, he boosts the offense as one of the best spot-up shooters in NBA history.
By trading Bayless, the Sixers can get themselves down to 15 players under contract. Richaun Holmes‘ contract is non-guarateneed, meaning he can easily be cut to make room for Jonah Bolden. The Sixers’ second-round pick, Shake Milton, can take a two-way contract.
Next: 3 reasons Redick should come off the bench
If the Cavs are serious about trading Korver, the Sixers should be making the call. Right now.