The 76ers didn't acquire LeBron James, Paul George or Kawhi Leonard this offseason, but Philadelphia's front office is still looking for ways to improve the roster ahead of the 2018-19 season.
Philly is set to add Mike Muscala as part of the three-team trade that dropped Carmelo Anthony in Atlanta (he will be waived by the Hawks and become a free agent), but that trade won't be finalized in the near future until the Sixers make another move. The Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey reports the Sixers have discussed sending Jerryd Bayless to the Cavs in exchange for Kyle Korver.
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However, Korver for Bayless straight up isn't happening in any universe. The Cavs would expect the Sixers to throw in draft pick(s) as a sweetener. And that could be what the two sides are trying to iron out at the moment.
A trade sending Cleveland's Kyle Korver to Philadelphia in exchange for Jerryd Bayless is "possible" but also "far from certain," according to one league source briefed on the talks.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 20, 2018
The veteran sharpshooter, who spent his first four seasons in Philadelphia, would give the Sixers one of the most consistent 3-point threats in the league (43.1 percent for his career) and space the floor for rising stars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid. The Sixers would also dump the remaining $8.5 million on Bayless' contract. Korver is set to make $7.5 million the next two seasons, but only $3.4 million is guaranteed ahead of the 2019-20 season.
Cleveland will have to decide what Korver is worth and gauge the trade market. At 37 years old, he remains a useful specialist and solid presence in the locker room. Is he worth more than Bayless and perhaps a second-round pick? Can Cleveland wait and drive up the price? That's on general manager Koby Altman to figure out.
