8:00pm: The sense is that, despite the buzz, the Cavs really aren’t close to a deal they like, Amico tweets. Meanwhile, a source close to Waiters tells Amico (link) that Waiters believes he or Kyrie Irving will be traded. The two guards reportedly clashed last season.
7:16pm: The Jazz and Cavs are discussing a trade that would involve Derrick Favors going to the Cavs for the No. 1 pick, according to Spencer Checketts of 1280 AM (via Jody Genessy of the Deseret News on Twitter). Checketts says that Utah is offering Favors, Alec Burks, and the No. 5 pick to the Cavs for the No. 1 selection and Jarrett Jack. Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (on Twitter), meanwhile, hears that the deal being discussed also includes Utah’s No. 23 pick.
Checketts adds that the Utah front office is split about including Burks in their offer to Cleveland (link). Checketts hears (link) that the Jazz initially offered Favors and the No. 5 pick for the No. 1. The Cavs wanted an unprotected first-round pick thrown in and the Jazz then countered with the No. 23 in this year’s draft.
The Cavs have also talked with the Sixers, Magic, and Timberwolves within the past 24 hours, Amico tweets. Meanwhile, the Cavs have also discussed Dion Waiters with an unknown team in the top ten (link).
Favors is set to begin a four-year, $49MM deal this season and one surprised NBA insider tells Genessy (via Twitter) that he can’t see Utah moving the former No. 3 overall pick. This past season was Favors’ best to date. The soon-to-be 23-year-old averaged 13.3 PPG and 8.7 RPG in 30.2 minutes per contest. His 19.0 PER was also a career best and the youngster has seen that number rise in each of his NBA seasons.
Depending on who you ask, the Cavs may have discussed Jack with the Nets last week in a deal that would have brought them guard Marcus Thornton. Jack signed a $25MM contract with the Cavs last summer after a successful 2012/13 campaign in which he came off the bench behind Stephen Curry for the Warriors. His 2013/14 season was a disappointing one however, as the point guard shot just 41% from the floor and posted a career-low 11.5 PER.
It was reported last week that Utah was making Burks available in order to move up in the draft. The shooting guard averaged 14.0 points in 28.1 minutes per game with a 15.8 PER, all career highs.
While there has been a lot of buzz around Andrew Wiggins as the clear-cut No. 1 choice in this year’s draft following Joel Embiid‘s injury, the Jazz could be eyeing the top pick in order to tab Duke’s Jabari Parker. Parker, who is of the Mormon faith, would be tremendously marketable in Utah.
You’d hate to see them give up so much talent to move up, but they almost have to do it. Not a bad trade for either side.
If the Jazz think Wiggins or so on is better then Favors and Cavs think Favors can replace Anderson V. then good Trade.
That’s laughably idiotic if you’re the Cavs. LOL and throw in Jacks, too! This may be the stupidest rumor ever in the history of any sport..
DON’T TRADE WAITERS!