NBA Draft: Can the Utah Jazz snag a second top ten pick?

When the 2014 NBA Draft arrives on Thursday evening, the Utah Jazz are rumored to try and have moved up to one of the top two picks by that time. While that is something that could potentially change the future of the franchise dramatically, is there another move that the Jazz could make that would be equally as impressive, if not a better option?

Reports from various media outlets is that the Los Angeles Lakers are very willing to move the number seven pick, as well as the Sacramento Kings are thinking about trading away their pick at number eight. Can the Jazz make a play at either one of these picks? Both seem to be possible, depending on what the Jazz are willing to give up in order to make that move.

If the Jazz decide to stick with the number five pick, my thought is that they will draft Aaron Gordon out of Arizona. If they do that, they can call either of the above teams and try to see if they can persuade them into a trade. With the Lakers, they could be looking at adding a big man that can score, due to them not knowing if they can bring back free agent Pau Gasol. In the following trade, it gives them that.

Lakers receive: Enes Kanter, 23rd pick from Jazz

Jazz receive: 7th pick from Lakers

This could be a long shot, but if the Lakers have interest in dealing the 7th pick, it is worth a try. However, I believe the Lakers are wanting to deal the 7th pick in hopes of landing a better player than Kanter.

With the Kings, they already have a big man that they are high on with Demarcus Cousins. You could offer Kanter and the 23rd pick to them, but there is a very good chance that the Kings would reject that. However, the Jazz could possibly get involved in a three team deal that could land them the eighth pick.

If you are a Jazz fan and you are on Twitter, a great person to follow is Peter Novak. When it comes to things the Jazz should do, as well as plenty of other Jazz info, Peter has a great handle on it. A way that he says the Jazz could land the eighth pick involves the Jazz, Kings, and the Orlando Magic.

The Magic have made it known that they are very willing to trade away Arron Afflalo. The Magic are also rumored to be wanting a big man that they can pair with Nikola Pekovich down on the low block. With the following trade, the Magic would get what they want, as well as everyone else making out well also.

Magic receive: Enes Kanter, 23rd pick from Jazz

Kings receive: Arron Afflalo, 25th pick from the Jazz

Jazz receive: 8th pick from the Kings

In my opinion, this trade makes sense all the way around. It also gives the Jazz a chance to get another pick in the top ten and possibly draft a three point shooter like Nik Stauskas of Michigan. With that being said, the Jazz rotation could possibly look somewhat like this next season, before free agency:

PG – Trey Burke, John Lucas III

SG – Alec Burks, Nik Stauskas

SF – Gordon Hayward

PF – Aaron Gordon, Jeremy Evans

C – Derrick Favors, Rudy Gobert

Obviously things would change after free agency, and the Jazz will more than likely look at adding some veterans, specifically at the small forward position. Just a couple players real quick who the Jazz could look hard at, are Trevor Ariza, who could bring a variety of skill sets off the bench. The other player that makes sense is Anthony Morrow, who can shoot the ball very well, who has opted out of his contract to make him a free agent, and the Jazz have gone after before.

If the Jazz can make this happen, I am all on board. Also, if Jazz general manager can pull this off, he may be a magician.