Rumor Roundup: Cavs, Millsap, Butler
The Cavaliers' trade for Hawks swingman Kyle Korver is expected to be made official sometime Saturday. Here's a closer look at that and other news from around pro hoops:
The Cavs and Hawks are targeting Saturday for a trade call to the league office that will finalize the Korver deal, per Yahoo Sports.
The Hawks are attempting to find a third team to take on Cavs swingman Mike Dunleavy Jr., according to Yahoo Sports.
Also per Yahoo Sports: "Mo Williams is still strong possibility to join Dunleavy in Korver deal. Cavs save $5.4M in salary and tax with Williams gone."
Per the Akron Beacon Journal: "Korver will have 72 hours from the time the trade is completed to join the Cavs and he still must pass a physical, so theoretically he may not join them until Tuesday at Utah or Wednesday at Portland." (Full report.)
Also per the Akron Beacon Journal: "LeBron James made it clear Friday his focus is on acquiring another point guard, which is what David Griffin’s next move will likely be." (Full report.)
Per Cleveland.com: "A savant moving without the ball, Korver uses screens and creates space to get his shot off the way Ray Allen did for years and the way Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry do for the Warriors now." (Full report.)
Per RealGM: "Never a great defender, Korver has slipped just a bit further defensively. This is likely what led to the Hawks moving him to a bench role recently. Korver could either start or come off the bench for Cleveland, with matchups likely dictating his role. Either way, Korver’s major impact will come on offense, playing off LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love." (Full report.)
The trade of Korver to the Cavaliers should have the Celtics and Raptors considering some moves before the trading deadline, per Sports Illustrated.
The Cavs and Trail Blazers have officially swapped first-round picks, with the Cavs dealing their 2017 pick to the Blazers for a 2018 pick. Complete press release.
Per the Akron Beacon Journal: "Before making the deal with the Blazers Friday to swap picks, the 'seven year rule' would've required the Cavs to leave their draft picks unprotected in both 2020 and 2022 if they traded them away today." (Full report.)
Also per the Akron Beacon Journal: "Coach Tyronn Lue said Korver will come off the bench and DeAndre Liggins will remain a starter because Lue likes the way Liggins defends opposing point guards." (Full report.)
Per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "The Hawks are talking to a number of teams about the availability of Paul Millsap. The Kings are very interested, according to a person familiar with the situation. Other teams that have reportedly shown interest include the Raptors, Nuggets and 76ers." (Full report.)
Per ESPN: "Asked whether he was thinking about his own future with the Hawks in light of the potential Korver deal, Millsap said: "No. It's not about me. Today's not about me. Today's about Kyle. It's about Kyle leaving, Kyle going to the Cleveland Cavaliers. I'm not a selfish guy, so it's not about me." (Full report.)
The Hawks have waived forward Ryan Kelly, per the team.
Per Cleveland.com: "LeBron James led all scorers with 36 points -- including 21 in the first half. Kevin Love scored 17 and Tristan Thompson added 10. But it was Irving who intervened when things tightened dramatically to start the fourth quarter. Irving and Love were on the court while the Nets (the NBA's worst team at 8-27 now) trimmed an 18-point deficit down to six." (Full report.)
Per ESPN Stats & Information: "The Cavaliers are now 11-0 when the big three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love combine for 80+ points as teammates."
The Bulls may be looking to trade star guard Jimmy Butler, per multiple reports.
The 76ers are one team that should try to make a serious run at Butler, per the Philadelphia Inquirer.
It's appearing likely that the Suns will trade guard Brandon Knight before the deadline in February, per the Arizona Republic.
The Nuggets have waived forward Alonzo Gee, per the team.
The Mavericks have waived guard Pierre Jackson, but will likely re-sign him after he clears waivers, per the Dallas News.
The Suns have waived guard John Jenkins, per the team.
The Magic have waived forward Arinze Onuaka, per the team. Onuaku has spent time in the D-League with the Canton Charge.
The Heat have applied for a disabled player exception following the season-ending injury to Justise Winslow, per the Miami Herald.
Former Celtics and Bulls guard R.J. Hunter has landed with the Long Island Nets of the D-League, per the team.
Former Spurs forward Matt Bonner has officially retired and made a video announcing the decision on The Players' Tribune.
Per the Associated Press: "Atlanta Hawks general manager Wes Wilcox has apologized for making a joke a fan believed was racially insensitive. Wilcox insisted he was only trying to make fun of himself and his family." (Full report.)
Here are the latest D-League assignments and recalls, per Hoops Rumors.
Former NBA center Bernard James has agreed to a deal with French club Limoges, per Amico Hoops.
Former Rhode Island forward Will Daniels has signed with Hapoel Eilat of Israel, per Amico Hoops.
Former Western Michigan guard Demetrius Ward has been named player-coach of German club Herzoege Wolfenbuettel, per Amico Hoops.
More News
Per Pro Basketball Digest: "Korver confirmed that he had been traded to the Cavs following the Hawks' loss at New Orleans on Thursday. Korver, 35, went through pregame warmups, but did not play. 'It's hard for me to leave (Atlanta) behind,' he told the media. 'Obviously it’s a great opportunity for me to go to Cleveland.'" (Full report.)
Per Pro Basketball Digest: "Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer pulled Korver into a side room before tipoff in New Orleans, according to a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Korver shook hands with teammates before the game, and the locker room was reportedly emotional while his now-former teammates said their goodbyes." (Full report.)
Per NEO Sports Insiders: "The Cavs are also working on obtaining a backup point guard sometime within the next week, with free agent Mario Chalmers believed to be the frontrunner. Free agent and former Cavs guard Jarrett Jack is also said to be in play, as are several others." (Full report.)
Per NEO Sports Insiders: "ESPN has reported the Cavs are also nearing an agreement to swap first-round draft picks with Portland. According to the report, the Cavs will send their 2017 pick to the Trail Blazers in exchange for a Blazers’ 2018 first-rounder." (Full report.)
Per Yahoo Sports: "Atlanta is willing to keep Dunleavy to make the deal work, but he doesn’t fit into its plans to make the roster younger and more financially flexible." (Full report.)
Per Yahoo Sports: "Atlanta owns six second-round picks over the next three years – and has up to $3.5 million available – as assets to attach in a Dunleavy deal." (Full report.)
Per Yahoo Sports: "Atlanta (19-16) is engaged in discussions with several teams on forward Paul Millsap, who can become a free agent in July, and the organization is motivated to move him sooner rather than later, sources said. Toronto, Denver and Sacramento are among teams with an interest in Millsap, league sources said." (Full report.)
Per ESPN: "ESPN first reported Sunday that the Hawks had made the decision to field trade calls from interested teams on Korver as well as All-Star forward Paul Millsap and veteran swingman Thabo Sefolosha. All three players can become free agents this summer." (Full report.)
Per The Washington Post: "Cleveland already was a loaded offensive team, with the ability to spread the floor with elite shooters at every position and LeBron James, only one of the best passers in the history of the sport, to find them all with pinpoint feeds. Replacing Dunleavy, whose struggles in Cleveland were costing him playing time, makes the task of trying to stop the Cavaliers infinitely harder." (Full report.)
Per The Washington Post: "The question remains, where will Millsap go? Toronto has been rumored as a possible destination, but it’s unclear if the Raptors will be willing to give up assets to make a move for a rental especially with star point guard Kyle Lowry set for a huge raise this summer." (Full report.)
The Kings are among the teams interested in Millsap, per multiple reports.
Per the Atlanta-Journal Constitution: "It was emotional when the team was officially told following the game. 'It’s tough,' said Paul Millsap, who also played with Korver in Utah. 'Kyle was a big reason I am here. To see him not in the locker room, it’s tough for me personally.'" (Full report.)
The Jazz aren't likely to just give away Gordon Hayward in a trade, per a column from the Sporting News.
Per Basketball Insiders: "Taj Gibson is the most attractive ending deal, and he could return value. The Bulls also have young guys like Bobby Portis and Denzel Valentine that could also return value. The Rajon Rondo situation has turned sour, and it’s unlikely anyone is helping the Bulls out of that situation." (Full report.)
Bucks wing Khris Middleton could potentially return from what was expected to be a season-ending injury ahead of schedule, per NBA.com.
Here are the latest D-League assignments and recalls, per Hoops Rumors.
Also per Hoops Rumors: "There are still 35 players around the NBA who are on non-guaranteed contracts, and decisions will be required on those players by Saturday. Although 2016/17 salaries technically don’t become guaranteed until Jan. 10, players must clear waivers by that date to avoid having their full salaries count against teams’ caps. In order for that to happen, they must be waived on or before Jan. 7." (Full report.)
Sixers coach Brett Brown feels some NBA team will pick up recently waived forward Hollis Thompson, per CSN Philly.
The Celtics will listen to trade offers for the first-round pick they obtained from the Nets, per Comcast SportsNet.
Former Dayton point guard Kevin Dillard has agreed to a contract with the New Zealand Breakers of the Australian NBL, per Amico Hoops.
Former Northeastern forward Bennet Davis has agreed to a deal with SAP Vaucluse of France, per Amico Hoops.
Former Washington State forward D.J. Shelton has reached agreement on a deal with Bulgarian club Rilski, peer Amico Hoops.
Former SE Missouri State forward Nino Johnson has signed with Energa Czarni of Poland, per Amico Hoops. Johnson was the 2011 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.
Former Harvard forward Kyle Casey has agreed to a contract with Hapoel Afula of Israel, per Amico Hoops.
