The Utah Jazz have been making headlines around the area, with reports coming in on bids they’re making to the Cavaliers, for their number 1 pick. Rumors on this topic have been afloat for a while now, according to a report by Spencer Checketts, from 1280 The Zone, in Utah’s Salt Lake City. On June 20, Checketts tweeted that the Utah Jazz had offered #5 and Favors to the Cleveland Cavs, for their No. 1 pick. At the time, it was unclear whether the target of their attention was Jabari Parker, as initially reported – or Andrew Wiggins.
Several sources have attempted to shed light on the matter in the three and a half days that have elapsed. Jody Genessy, from Deseret News, for instance, also tweeted on the topic and unveiled several other details of the upcoming affair, set to unfurl during the NBA draft on Thursday. According to Genessy, who tweets under the handle @DJJazzyJody, Spencer had explained that both Favors and the No. 5 pick “are on the table” for the Utah Jazz, with Alec Burks, pick No. 23 “and/or an unprotected first-rounder” to stand in as “potential sweeteners”.
Understandably enough, in the wake of this Twitter storm, several voices expressed their mistrust regarding the rumors afloat on the small time local market. However, the rumors in question were confirmed by media big leaguer Marc Stein from ESPN. On June 24, in a tweet that went out at 2:51 AM, Stein confirmed that the Utah Jazz are looking to trade Derrick Favors, Alec Burks and their No. 5 pick, in exchange for the Cleveland Cavaliers’ No. 1 pick and Jarrett Jack. Stein quoted Checketts in his tweet on Tuesday morning.
As such, by all counts, it seems obvious that the Jazz have got their target locked on Cleveland’s top pick. This, of course, begs the obvious question of ‘why?’ Why would they want that player in particular? Perhaps it is because, as many have surmised, the Jazz have finally found that single NBA player they most need. Who is that player? That’s a completely different question altogether – and if the Jazz fans get their way, that player is without a shadow of a doubt Jabari Parker.
Chad Ford, from ESPN, however, raised an entirely different theory, during a June 18 chat held on ESPN.com. He explained that Dennis Lindsay might just go in for either Embiid or Wiggins, instead of Jabari. In the meantime, Embiid has sustained an injury, which effectively removed him off the list. Wiggins, on the other hand, comes with high credentials: last year, he would have made the top pick, had it not been for the NBA-imposed age limit. 2014 might just be the year that makes his career, for the 6’8” player with a 7’0” wingspan and a 44-inch maximum vertical. Many say he’s got potential for the All Star team and just as many expect him to mature into a great defender. It’s yet impossible to tell whether he’ll be first, second, or third pick – but he most certainly won’t be pick No. 5. Some trading up is in the cards; in all likelihood, the NBA draft Thursday is going to be exciting for the Utah Jazz and their fans!
