The Sunday Mail
As the Cleveland Cavaliers finalise a deal to acquire sharpshooter Kyle Korver from the Atlanta Hawks, LeBron James has declared that the work is not done for the defending champions.“We still got a couple more things we need to do,” said James. “We got to get a point guard.”
It was a continuation of the point guard drum James was beating after the Cavs lost to the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
“Yeah, it’s my last time saying it,” James said. “We need a point guard.”
ESPN reported last week that former Cavs play-caller Jarrett Jack is available, as are former Miami Heat point guards Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole, who both have ties to James.
The Cavs’ roster would be at the maximum of 15 players should the Korver deal include Mike Dunleavy as the lone player being shipped out. However, the current framework of the trade is that the Cavs would send Mo Williams, Dunleavy and a protected 2019 first-round pick to the Hawks for Korver, sources said.
The teams are talking about moving Dunleavy to a third team but had not yet found one. Both DeAndre Liggins and Jordan McRae’s contracts don’t become fully guaranteed until January 10.
Liggins is certainly safe, as Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said he will remain the starter in the backcourt, even when Korver presumably reports to the team.
According to a team source, there is a “zero percent chance” McRae will be waived. There is the possibility that Cleveland will be able to negotiate a buyout with either Williams or Chris Andersen who are both occupying spots on dead-weight deals.
“I think that’s the next step,” James said of a point guard addition. “You know, you look at our league, most teams have three point guards. We only have two, in Kyrie Irving and our rookie n Kay (Felder). I think just having that secure blanket (is important).
“Every NFL team has three quarterbacks. Having that secure blanket in case of a (situation like the Raiders losing) Derek Carr. We’ll see what happens, but we’re happy with our team right now.”
Indeed, there was a noticeable joy among the Cavs, as they took the court at Basketball City on Pier 36 on Friday, as they considered the possibility of adding a former All-Star in Korver to their already accomplished group.
“It’ll be good for our team,” James said. “We have to give him the ball. It adds another dynamic piece to our team. He is one hell of a sharpshooter and just a great guy.”
Korver, a career 42,9 percent shooter from 3, is shooting 40,9 percent from beyond the arc for Atlanta this season but has made a whopping 49 percent of his open opportunities.
With the trade for Korver still not official, Lue was initially coy about what his addition could mean. – abc7.com
