With the first pick in the 2014 NBA draft, the Utah Jazz select …
Wait, the Jazz? Yes, it appears Utah is trying to move up in Thursday’s draft. The Jazz offered their No. 5 pick and promising young big man Derrick Favors to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 pick, Spencer Checketts of 1280 The Zone reported Monday evening, citing a source.
Another report indicated Jarrett Jack would also go to Utah for salary-matching purposes.
Among other reasons, the swap could be hung up on the secondary details of the deal. The Cavs reportedly also want Alec Burks or an unprotected future first-round pick, according to Jody Gennessy of the Deseret News, but the Jazz are hesitant to part with Burks and would rather give up this year’s No. 23 pick than a future first-rounder.
Duke’s Jabari Parker and Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins are the frontrunners to go No. 1 after Joel Embiid underwent foot surgery last Friday. Parker has Utah ties; his mother, Lola, emigrated to Salt Lake City as a child and the family belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, which is based in Salt Lake.
Photo via Twitter/@ESPNNBA
