NBA AM: The Rich Get Richer as Korver Joins Cavs

The Rich Get Richer: Kyle Korver Headed to Cleveland

The old saying “the rich get richer” holds true – for at least another day. The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly acquired sharpshooter Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks for a protected 2019 first-round pick and veterans Mo Williams and Mike Dunleavy.

The news was first reported by The Vertical.

The Hawks appear to be in the midst of some housecleaning. Last week, reports surfaced that the team was entertaining offers for All-Star forward Paul Millsap prior to the Korver news. Atlanta is expected to have eight guys headed to unrestricted free agency next summer, so the direction of the team moving forward is still uncertain. The club is currently on a nine-season playoff streak with a legitimate shot to extend it another year – unless they’re in full rebuild-for-the-future mode.

For the defending champion Cavaliers, they add even more firepower to a unit expected to coast through the Eastern Conference come playoff time. Korver has knocked down 1,952 three-pointers since entering the league during the 2003-04 campaign. The veteran should be able to reach the 2,000 mark by the end of the season with more open looks as a member of the Cavaliers.

The Cavaliers have been hurt in the backcourt ever since incumbent starter J.R. Smith went down with a hand fracture last month. Korver isn’t as athletic as Smith and doesn’t have the chemistry built with the Cavaliers’ core group – yet – but many would argue he’s much more dangerous (and consistent) from the perimeter in catch-and-shoot situations.

Korver is averaging 9.5 points on 41 percent shooting from three-point range in 32 appearances this season. He was selected as an All-Star during the 2014-15 season – his lone appearance.

By surrounding stars LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love with one of the best active shooters in the league, Cleveland just got a lot scarier.

Bosh Getting a Taste of Retirement

Former All-Star forward Chris Bosh’s previous two seasons ended prematurely due to recurring blood clotting issues. Prior to the start of the 2016-17 campaign, the Miami HEAT announced that the big man had failed his physical and the franchise subsequently admitted Bosh was no longer in their future plans.

As the 2017 campaign roars on, the HEAT are eyeing a spot in the draft lottery while Bosh has remained on the shelf in a forced retirement of sorts for the moment. When the season first started, Bosh was adamant about his desire to return back to action. But in a recent report by NBA.com, it appears the big man has softened his stance regarding a return to the hardwood.

“I’m still learning more about myself and my situation, and really off the court how to function there because I’m kind of getting the taste of retirement now,” Bosh said, according to the report. “Just trying to navigate those waters because it gets a little complicated sometimes. … Hoping one day that the stars align and I figure some things out and things kind of just go my way and I’ll be able to do what I want to do. I don’t know what that is yet.”

To be fair, Bosh didn’t go in full detail on his medical condition and his true intent to play or not to play. However, his comments do play into the notion he could be settling into a peaceful place regarding his career if it were to truly be but short due to his medical condition.

For me, I kind of just follow my passions and follow what I love to do and use my free time to kind of answer those questions and go through my bad moods and maybe a little light case of depression,” Bosh said. “Really, to search for what I’m looking for. And I’ve come to some interesting conclusions. It’s all about following my heart and what made me happy.”

Bosh last appeared in an NBA game last February. Miami can elect to waive the veteran once the one-year anniversary of his last appearance passes. The $76 million owed to him on the remaining portion of his contract is guaranteed, but the franchise would gain significant relief on the salary cap to rebuild moving forward.

Bosh won two titles with the HEAT (2012 and 2013) and is an 11-time All-Star.