Kyle Korver won’t fix the Jazz, but it’s a start

The Jazz traded Alec Burks and two second-round picks to the Cavaliers for Kyle Korver on Wednesday. Utah needs shooting help, and Korver is that. There is essentially a team option to keep him around next season (it’s a partial guarantee), but Burks’ contract is expiring.

That said, this is no salve for an underwhelming Jazz offense. The Jazz front office likely knows this. As I wrote last weekend, what Utah needs is more than shooting: it needs someone to take the ball out of Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio’s hands a few possessions a game, another playmaker and creator who can relax the overextended guard duo. Outside of Mitchell, the Jazz rotation is filled with players uncomfortable having the ball in their hands a lot. Joe Ingles is a very capable passer, but his usage rate is always low. Other high-minute players like Rudy Gobert, Derrick Favors, and Jae Crowder just don’t handle the ball much for good reason.

Korver is a low-usage shooter, so he doesn’t help that. He will, however, turn some of those roleplayer three-point bricks into makes, and that’s useful. This isn’t a fix. It’s the start of a fix. We’ll see what else Utah has up its sleeve.

R.I.P. to the dreams of seeing Korver in a Lakers jersey this season.

Hawks 94, Hornets 108
Knicks 91, Sixers 117
Jazz 101, Nets 91
Mavericks 128, Rockets 108
Bulls 113, Bucks 116
Spurs 89, Timberwolves 128
Wizards 104, Pelicans 125
Cavaliers 83, Thunder 100
Magic 112, Blazers 115
Suns 99, Clippers 115

Warriors at Raptors, 8 p.m. ET, TNT
Pacers at Lakers, 10:30 p.m. ET, League Pass
Clippers at Kings, 10:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Resident genius Jon Bois and Felix Biederman of Chapo Trap House fame teamed up for a five-part history of mixed martial arts titled Fighting in the Age of Loneliness. It’s so good.

I wrote about what could very well be the last season of Anthony Davis in New Orleans, and what the Pelicans should do now.

Mike Prada on how Brook Lopez turbocharges the Bucks’ impressive offense just by standing at the three-point line.

Big Zach Lowe piece on how Kemba Walker turned himself into a superstar.

Kawhi Leonard’s new sneaker deal is with ... New Balance? Here’s how he went from Jordan Brand to New Balance.

Dan Devine on Devin Booker taking over as the Suns’ point guard.

Dawn Staley on the dearth of black coaches in college basketball.

All hail Nikola Vucevic.

Andrew Sharp on the work the Lakers have to do.

Be excellent to each other.