When the Cavaliers re-signed Kyle Korver to a three-year contract last year, they reportedly promised to buy him out or trade him during the following offseason – so Korver could more easily move his family – if LeBron James left Cleveland.
LeBron of course left for the Lakers, but the Cavs didn’t follow through on their reported pledge. In a misguided attempt to win this season, they kept Korver.
They finally dealt Korver yesterday, and by sending him to the Jazz, they appeased him.
Joe Vardon of The Athletic:Salt Lake City, Korver said, is where he met his wife, Juliet, when he played for the Jazz previously from 2007-10.
“We have lots of friendships there, which will soften the landing,” Korver said.
The Cavaliers never should have promised to trade Korver. They could have explained to the now-37-year-old he’d have little use on a post-LeBron team (and actually realized that), so a trade would be likely if LeBron left. But a pledged timeline for a trade or buyout was too far.
Likewise, if the ability to choose his own team last offseason was so important to Korver, he should have signed a one-year deal in 2017. But he wanted more guaranteed money. To get it, had to – maybe more than he realized – relinquish control of where he played.
So, this was a bad and avoidable situation.
But at least it had a happy ending.
Except for the players left in Cleveland on a team even less-equipped to win now.
