The Utah Jazz announced today that the team has acquired guard/forward Kyle Korver, pending the outcome of physicals, from Cleveland, in exchange for guard Alec Burks and two future second-round draft picks. Currently in his 16th NBA season, Korver (6-7, 212, Creighton) has appeared in 1,120 career games (422 starts) with Philadelphia, Utah, Chicago, Atlanta and Cleveland, owning averages of 9.9 points on 44.4 percent from the field and 43.2 percent from three-point range, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 26.0 minutes per contest. Named an All-Star during the 2014-15 season, the Pella, Iowa native currently ranks fourth all-time in NBA history for three-point field goals made (2,238). Along with Stephen Curry and Ray Allen, Korver is one of only three players in NBA history to hit over 2000 three-point field goals on better than 40 percent from beyond the arc in their career.
More on Alec Burks Trade?
Eric Woodyard: A Deseret News source confirmed that Alec Burks is happy to be in a place with more consistent minutes for him. Burks is in good spirits and ready to turn the page because the rotation wasn’t working in his favor with 15.8 minutes per game. He is currently headed to Cleveland.
On a personal level, Burks will be significantly missed among his teammates. He never complained. He never made waves when things didn’t go his way. He just went about his business and stayed ready, whenever his time came. His teammates appreciated that, as evidenced by this Joe Ingles tweet:
“I was shocked when he told me,” said Jazz rookie Grayson Allen. “I think everybody was a little bit surprised. It’s just the timing of it but that’s how it goes.” “It’s a tough thing,” Exum said. “Obviously, being around, I know how that goes but it’s something you never want to see with guys going but I wish the best for him.”
Albert Nahmad: Cavaliers will trade Kyle Korver to the Jazz in exchange for Alec Burks and second-round picks in 2020 and 2021 (via Wizards), per @Adrian Wojnarowski. Jazz will create a $4.0M trade exception in the deal.
The Kyle Korver contract has a $7.56M cap hit this season and $7.5M for 2019-20. The salary for next season has $3.44M guaranteed with the full amount becoming protected if not waived by July 7. Alec Burks is in the last year of his contract with a salary of $11..53M. The guard also has $1M of unlikely bonuses in his contract.
The Jazz (9-12) have been determined to thrust themselves out of an early-season malaise and pursued Korver to deepen their ability to spread the floor with their shooting. Korver, 37, has been one of the most pursued available players on the trade market.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Utah is also sending Alec Burks to Cavaliers in the deal, league source tells ESPN.
The Jazz may rethink their strategy a bit with the current hot streak, The Tribune has learned. Utah has been committed to trading Hood and gauging the market for Favors and Alec Burks. Veteran Joe Johnson has emerged as a buyout candidate if no trade partner is found in the next few days.
Besides Hood, teams are also showing trade interest in Jazz shooting guard Alec Burks, league sources tell The Tribune. The problem is, teams are hesitant to take on his contract, which pays him through the end of next season.
NBA players are usually adept in tuning out rumors. They know it comes with the territory. There’s a business side to playing in the league and they know it. Social media? Outside chatter? It usually doesn’t bother them. For the Jazz, it has been a little more difficult. With the NBA’s trade deadline three weeks away, Utah’s roster could change — perhaps dramatically — in the near future. Derrick Favors knows he may be traded soon. Alec Burks, Joe Johnson, and even Rodney Hood, have all been identified as possible trade pieces in recent reports. The uncertainty, the injuries, the losing have taken a toll. The Jazz locker room has not been an especially happy place in recent weeks, and some of that unhappiness has seeped onto the floor. Simply, it’s tough to have multiple players on a team mentioned in trade talk and not have a residual effect.
Andy Larsen: Looks like all of the rumored players are at practice today: Favors, Mack, Burks, etc. Hood is here too, after not playing before the break.
Adam Buys: Trade possibility on ESPN: Jrue/Cole from Pelicans, Burke/Burks/2nd rd pick from Jazz. Jrue could play w/ Exum. - Tony Jones: Alec Burks isn't on the block, from what I can tell.
