Atlanta Hawks-Kyle Korver Headed to the Cleveland Cavs
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Hawks are reportedly sending Kyle Korver to Cleveland. What does this say about the Atlanta Hawks?
The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly just finished a trade that will send Kyle Korver to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a 2019 first round pick and struggling veteran Mike Dunleavy. The trade is one that is a very confusing move for the Hawks when you consider where they are in the standings. The Hawks are obviously already looking toward next season and considering that Korver is on the final year of his contract. Trading him as a rental player and attempting to resign him this off-season or letting the veteran go all-together would make sense if the Hawks didn’t trade him to the Cavaliers.
In the middle of the playoff race and with the Cavs easily their biggest obstacle on any attempt of a title run, handing the Cavs their best three point shooter is not only a head scratcher but is a move that should show the Hawk’s fans what the mindset is in Atlanta. This isn’t a move trying to build a playoff team this a move of a team that is already mailing it in and playing for next season.
To be clear that is a knock on the front office not on the coach or players who have no control over the decisions that the front office is choosing to make. Kyle Korver did warm up with the Hawks last night but sat out of the game. When asked about the trade this is what Korver had to say:
“There’s a lot of hard ties to Atlanta, for a lot of reasons. A lot of friendships, relationships. It’s where I had my best basketball years, honestly. It’s where I had all my kids. It’s hard to leave that behind. Obviously it’s a great opportunity for me to go to Cleveland. So I’m very excited about that part of it. But there’s a lot of relationships that I care about here that I’m gonna miss. From a basketball perspective, [Cleveland is] a great, great fit for me. And I know that.”
The good news for Korver is that he will be able to join forces with Lebron James and strengthen a team that is expected to win the division with little trouble. For the Hawks they simply made their 2019 future brighter and helped the Cavs take both the Hawks and the rest of the competition out by sending Korver to team up with a loaded Cavs team.
If you’re an Atlanta Hawks fan you know this move is the beginning of the end for the Hawk’s playoff hopes.