2011 NBA Draft Trade Rumors: Why Cavaliers Choice Could Spark Jazz-Raptors Trade

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Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors Could Have Trade in the Works If Cleveland Cavaliers Take Kyrie Irving First in 2011 NBA Draft

It appears as though Brandon Knight and Enes Kanter might get to play together after all...just not at Kentucky.

@Probballdraft has been burning up the Twitter-sphere today with rumors that the Utah Jazz and Toronto Raptors may be looking to make a deal should the Cleveland Cavaliers select Duke's Kyrie Irving with the first-overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft as most expect they will, tweeting:

"Hearing some within the @Utah_Jazz believe UT should take Kanter 3rd & then trade #12 to the #Raptors for #5 & Brandon Knight."

In that event, @Probballdraft explains that the Jazz would reportedly take Kanter at No. 3 and swap the 12th pick, along with either Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap, to the Raptors for the fifth-overall pick, which would presumably turn into Knight. Toronto would then spend the Jazz's second selection on Bismack Biyombo of the Congo.

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For Utah, this move would signal the beginning of a wholesale rebuilding process. The Jazz aren't likely to contend again until general manager Kevin O'Connor can find a superstar to fill the big shoes left behind by the trade of Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets. Jefferson and Millsap were originally intended to be part of a new juggernaut in Salt Lake City but may be expendable now that the experiment has fallen flat.

With Knight and Kanter, the Jazz would have two more pieces to add to a solid, young nucleus that also includes forwards Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors.

As far as Toronto is concerned, adding Biyombo and either Jefferson or Millsap would give likely new head coach Dwane Casey some more bulk to work with on both ends of the floor.

Of course, all of this is contingent on the Cavs taking Irving at the top. Should Cleveland opt for Derrick Williams instead, this deal would almost surely disappear back into the annals of rumor-dom.

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