The Cavaliers' most reliable long-range threat remains Kyle Korver. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kyle Korver made 222 field goals last season. Of those, 170 were assisted by players no longer on the Cavaliers' roster.

Korver is one of the greatest shooters of all time. But he's a specialist, someone who needs teammates to create looks for him. Who will be the player to step into that role this season?

In the run-up to the Cavs' 2018-19 training camp that starts with media day on Sept. 24, cleveland.com is taking a look at each roster player and what might be expected this season if this team is to survive LeBron James' departure and make a legitimate run at a playoff spot.

Korver is among the glut of shooting guards. He's a veteran whose best years are behind him. On a team trying to balance developing youngsters and fighting for a playoff spot, Korver falls somewhere in between. But his lethal outside shooting is a weapon off the bench and his gravity makes it easier on his teammates -- either in Cleveland or somewhere else around the trade deadline.

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Season rewind

The story of Korver's season can't be discussed without talking about the unfortunate tragedy he suffered shortly before the playoffs. Korver, a family man at his core and the oldest of four brothers, had to persevere through the heartbreak of his brother, Kirk, passing away suddenly.

The team rallied around Korver and he did everything he could to stay focused on basketball. It wasn't easy, of course.

In the playoffs, Korver averaged 8.3 points on 37.8 percent shooting, including 40 percent from beyond the arc. Instrumental in the sweep against the Raptors during the Eastern Conference semifinals, Korver's overall numbers were heavily impacted by the struggles in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors. Korver scored just six points and made one shot in 65 minutes.

He finished the 2017-18 season averaging 9.2 points on 45.9 percent from the field and 43.6 percent from 3-point range. It was the second time in the last three years Korver failed to reach double figures in scoring for a season.

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Kyle Korver's outside shooting should still be a weapon for new-look Cavaliers. (Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com)

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Great expectations

When the Cavaliers played the Atlanta Hawks a few years ago, Korver's name was at the top of the scouting report. On a team with three other All-Stars, it was Korver that the Cavs coaching staff felt demanded the most attention. That gives a window into the problems he can cause and the non-stop focus required to contain him.

That was the Cavs' vision when they acquired him. Toss him on the floor next to James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love and watch as the defense gets spread too thin.

That role shouldn't change even if the pieces around him have.

Korver, 37, is a pressure releaser, capable of lifting some of that offensive burden from Love and young Collin Sexton, giving both players the requisite room to attack.

The Cavs, who are expected to run something other than a player-centric offense, will also try to keep Korver involved with away-from-the-ball actions.

The best part about having Korver: he gives the Cavs options. A true pro who doesn't ever get caught up in the starter/non-starter stuff, they can play him in variety of lineups and take advantage of his non-stop movement. Or, given the newfound backcourt depth, the Cavs could consider moving him to a shooter-needy team, believing he would be more valuable there. Recouping a draft pick or two isn't a bad plan for a team that's retooling.

Both options should be considered. And both are sound.

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Contract status

Korver has two years and $15 million remaining on his contract.

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How Cleveland got him

On Jan. 7, 2017, in need of more shooting, the Cavs traded Mo Williams, Mike Dunleavy and a protected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for Korver.

That first rounder is protected 1-10 in 2019 and 2020. if the Cavs have not conveyed a first-round pick to Atlanta by 2020, then they will instead be forced to send their 2021 second-round pick and 2022 second-round pick to Atlanta.

This draft pick is at the center of the chatter about whether it's better for the Cavs to bottom out and keep the selection or fight for a playoff spot and possibly lose it.

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Thank you @Creighton @BluejayMBB for all you've done for me. Thank you Coach Altman. Thank you to all of my teammates, I love being a Bluejay. #GoJays pic.twitter.com/7LrxXojSyc — Kyle Korver (@KyleKorver) August 29, 2018

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Big summer news

Korver was not only inducted into the Creighton Hall of Fame, but had his No. 25 retired.

He finished his career at Creighton fourth all-time in scoring (1,801 points) and first in three-pointers made (371), three-point percentage (45.3), and free-throw percentage (89.1).