The 2014 NBA Free Agency Rumors & Predictions are having all sorts of permutations-some are reasonable and some are outright baffling but each team has their own motivation.

This year's draft has three players at the top level-Joel Embiid, Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker in no particular order. In fact, the order is the main reason why the Sixers are willing to lose a valuable lottery pick to move up.

But why? They are already in the realm of the top three. That seemed to be all that matters.

Not for the Philadelphia 76ers! They staged what Bill Simmons called "the most brazen tanking effort ever in the NBA." They had their sights set on becoming no.1 and they were the closest to actually admitting it. They had studied all the draft prospects more than a year in advance. They lost 26 straight games and became the laughing stock of the league-but still failed to get the worst record.

Enter the Cleveland Cavaliers. They had the first overall pick last year and they were also blasted for apparently 'wasting' the pick on an unworthy talent. The jokes came instantaneously when they won the draft lottery again.

Cleveland was less invested in the lottery-they were actually trying to contend! They traded to acquire Luol Deng to make a playoff push but they still failed.

Now they're at the hot seat again. It seems like a no-lose situation with those three top players-but it might also be a no-win situation if they don't play up to par. They could step down and take the easiest pick of the draft-no. 3 overall. Since there are three top players, they can easily take the one that was left. They will also get a 10^th overall pick for their troubles.

For the Sixers, their motivation is clear. From the 700level.com: "..there's little doubt that who they want first and foremost is Wiggins. So perhaps the chance to know for sure that Wiggins will end up with them this June-or even Embiid or Parker, if Hinkie unexpectedly decides that either is his guy-would be worth the sacrifice of their #10 pick, with which Cleveland can continue to fill out its roster with young talent in the hopes of attracting a big-name free agent (perhaps the one they lost in free agency four years ago) this summer."

It sounds logical but the 10^th pick is a steep price to pay. There is no assurance that Wiggins would be better than Embiid, Parker or any other prospect. That's why the draft is exciting, and why there will never be parity in the NBA.