Veteran shooting guard Kyle Korver has had a tumultuous period in which he’s been part of three different teams in the past two weeks.
One new report indicates that he’ll soon be part of a fourth team, with the Los Angeles Lakers one of the frontrunners for his services.
Suns are planning to buyout the partially guaranteed contract of Kyle Korver, league sources tell ESPN. Lakers, Sixers and Bucks are frontrunners to sign Korver once he clears waivers, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2019
On June 19, Korver was traded by the Utah Jazz to the Memphis Grizzlies as part of the Jazz’s acquisition of guard Mike Conley. On Wednesday, he was sent by the Grizzlies to the Phoenix Suns, who are expected to buy him out of the final year of his contract. Only $3.44 million of his $7.5 million deal for the 2019-20 season is guaranteed if he’s waived on or before July 7.
The 38-year-old Korver has played 16 seasons in the NBA and has established himself as one of the league’s all-time greats in the area of 3-point shooting. He has a career shooting percentage of 42.9 percent in that category and has knocked down 2,351 shots from beyond the arc in regular-season play over his career.
One Lakers player who’s expected to eagerly try to recruit Korver is forward LeBron James, who played with him when both were members of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Korver was dealt to the Cavs in January 2017 and was part of the Cavs’ Eastern Conference championship squad during that season and the 2017-18 campaign.
While all three teams in contention will make a concerted effort to sign Korver, the James factor could be the difference when his final decision takes place.
