Thought-to-be Sixers Target Kyle Korver traded to the Utah Jazz

Pretty much since the start of the 2018 offseason, Kyle Korver has been mentioned by fans and media members as a possible acquisition by the Sixers in a trade or on the buyout market. It just made sense: Korver has been a bastion of 3PT shooting and floor spacing for his entire career (something the Sixers could use), he can provide reliable defense when it matters and the Cavs were projected to be and are one of the worst teams in the NBA and in the market for a rebuild — meaning they don’t need veterans, making Korver expendable.

But the dream of Kyle Korver and JJ Redick spotting up in a Ben Simmons led offense has evaporated. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Cleveland Cavaliers have traded Kyle Korver to the Utah Jazz in exchange for two second round picks and Alec Burks:

Should the Sixers have pounced? I can’t fault them for not doing so — while I would have been happy to see a trade, I believed the team should have ideally waited until Korver was bought out to pursue his services (that’s assuming he would have been bought out). But we see just where waiting can get you at times: on the outside looking in. Even in retrospect, now knowing that the Cavs had at least one trade suitor, there still should have been hesitation to send a package for Korver. A trade for Korver means he’s on your books next season at $7.56 million (only $3.44 million of that is guaranteed), whereas singing him after a buyout would have only guaranteed he’s on your books for the remainder this season.

At the end of the day, it’s disappointing to know that Korver won’t be returning to the team he started his playing career with, but there should be other comparable options once the buyout market comes around.