NBA: Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers bucked a slow first half and the continued absence of starting point guard George Hill to beat the visiting Jazz. David West had 25 points to top-score for Indiana, which still has the best record in the league at 46-13. Paul George added 22 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists while back-up C.J. Watson had 13 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Reuters

The Utah Jazz are hoping to go higher in the draft ladder and possibly pick the best player in the 2014 NBA draft pool by proposing of exchange of picks and the services of young center-forward Derrick Favors to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

SBnation.com reports that sources say that the Utah Jazz are active in talks to acquire the number one overall pick in the upcoming selection to the extent that they are willing to offer their youngest star Derrick Favors and the Number 5 pick, Spencer Checketts of Salt Lake City's 1280 radio reported.

The same chatter has speculated that the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to coax the Jazz to give up a future unprotected first round pick as well as Alec Burks in exchange for veteran combo guard Jarrett Jack. Utah's front office has been both hesitant to include another young improving piece and Burks as well as a future first rounder which may very well end up in the upper half of the lottery.

Picking at number 5, it is understandable that the Jazz are fueling interests to move up in the order given that they have long targeted Jabari Parker or Andrew Wiggins to complement their young developing core. Utah might now be enamored in the second tier talent available at the fifth spot which will yield the likes of Dante Exum, Aaron Gordon or Noah Vonleh, who are good pieces but not viewed franchise altering talents such as Parker of Wiggins. There is also the option of picking Joel Embiid but health concerns for the young mobile center, has turned off many of the higher picking teams.

Given that the Jazz has some interest to snatch Parker or Wiggins, the price to get these names much be too much. Favors is only 22-years old and having an impact on both ends of the floor. He is in the mold of a young Dwight Howard who has the tools at a young age but needs guidance and sharpening of said tools.

With the 2014 NBA draft just counting down the hours, expect a lot of speculations on the movement of players and the reshuffling of pick order which was triggered by the injury report on Embiid, the talks of Kevin Love and Carmelo Anthony free agencies and the uncertainty of LeBron James. If Utah is in the mix in these movements, we will now in the next couple of days.