The Sixers have been searching for a way to end their partnership with Jerryd Bayless for some time now. And while a resolution may finally be coming into shape, it's far from a sure thing.
The Inquirer's Keith Pompey first reported Thursday that the Sixers have had discussions with the Cleveland Cavaliers about a trade involving Bayless and Kyle Korver.
However, The New York Times' Marc Stein added Friday that while a potential deal involving the two sides is "possible" it's also "far from certain."
Bayless has one year remaining on his contract at $8.57 million.
Korver has two years left on his deal for $7.56 million in 2018-19 and $7.5 million the following season. Of that 2019-20 salary, only $3.44 million is guaranteed if Korver remains on the team after July 7, 2019. The money becomes fully guaranteed after that point.
Any deal for the Cavaliers to take on Bayless would likely also involve a draft pick going back to Cleveland. The Sixers currently have control of most of their own assets, including six total second-round selections in the next two drafts.
Korver, who spent the first four-plus years of his career with the Sixers, is still getting it done in the NBA at 37 years old. The veteran sharpshooter played in 73 regular-season games last season for the Cavs and averaged 9.2 points a night on 43.6 percent three-point shooting (sixth-best in the NBA).
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Meanwhile, Bayless fell out of the rotation in Year 2 of his three-year, $27 million contract with the Sixers. The 29-year-old guard was a DNP-CD for 39 of the Sixers' final 40 games, including playoffs, with the lone appearance being a showing for 1:44 in the team's Game 1 blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In all, Bayless played in just 39 contests and averaged 7.9 points (41.6 percent shooting from the field and 37.0 percent shooting from three-point range).
"It wasn't easy," Bayless said during exit interviews of his diminished role as the season went on. "This whole year from an individual standpoint wasn't the easiest. But, at the same time, when you're around a group of guys that we had and the success that we had, it made it easier.
"I'm really grateful that I was able to be a part of this organization this year. We'll see what happens moving forward."