Fansided

NBA Draft Rumors 2014: Jazz would have to part with Burke, Favors or Hayward to move up

By Andrew Melnick

Dec 11, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Utah Jazz shooting guard Gordon Hayward (20) high fives point guard Trey Burke (3) as a timeout is called against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2013; Sacramento, CA, USA; Utah Jazz shooting guard Gordon Hayward (20) high fives point guard Trey Burke (3) as a timeout is called against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /
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There is a perceived top four in the 2014 NBA Draft. That group consists of former Kansas Jayhawks’ teammates, center Joel Embiid and forward Andrew Wiggins, former Duke Blue Devils’ forward Jabari Parker and Australian point guard Dante Exum.

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The Utah Jazz, who finished with the league’s fourth-worst record, thought they were in good position to land one of those players, but after the Cleveland Cavaliers jumped up and snagged the number one overall pick, the Jazz fell to the fifth-overall pick. The Jazz could sit at five and take a player like former Oklahoma State Cowboys’ point guard Marcus Smart or former Indiana Hoosiers’ big man Noah Vonleh, but reports have indicated the Jazz would like to move up into the top four.

According to Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors, the Jazz would likely have to include point guard Trey Burke, big Derrick Favors or forward Gordon Hayward, who is set to become a restricted free agent in any deal to move into the top four.

"Unfortunately for Utah, I think it would have to involve one of Favors, Hayward or Burke. I’d consider it if it were Burke, since we’ve only seen a partial season from him, but Hayward and Favors are already established, productive players. It’d be tough to give one of them up for anyone from this draft. There are no guarantees when you’re selecting amateurs to play in the pros."

Burke put up 12.8 points, 5.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game in his rookie season while Favors averaged 13.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 assists per game last season and Hayward went for 16.2 points, 5.2 assists, 5.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.

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