NBA Draft Rumors: Jazz, Cavaliers still talking trade for No. 1 pick
By Bryan Rose
Just a few days ago news broke suggesting that a handful of teams had offered the Cleveland Cavaliers a trade package in effort to secure themselves the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. One such team to allegedly do so were the Utah Jazz.
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It was the last we had heard of such a deal, but apparently the Jazz and the Cavaliers are still in negotiations about such a move as Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio noted in his weekly chat.
Responding to a fan question about Jazz rumors, Amico stated that the two sides continued to speak about a potential trade.
“They’re still talking to the Cavs about moving up to 1. But they don’t want to involve Gordon Hayward in a sign-and-trade.”
The initial rumors of the deal hinted that the Jazz would at minimum need to send the No. 5 pick and power forward Derrick Favors to the Cavaliers, but that might not be enough since Amico seems to suggest the Cavaliers are also wanting small forward Gordon Hayward in a deal as well.
Of course, being a restricted free agent, Hayward would have to agree to such a trade in the first place and it’s not known if he’d be willing to do so. Needless to say, that complicates matters though it’s understandable why the Cavaliers would be requesting him in a deal as they’re looking for an offer they can’t refuse.
Favors and the No. 5 is a nice grab, no doubt, but it’s not enough for the Cavaliers to leave either Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker on the table.