The Utah Jazz have continued to look like risers in the Western Conference. With a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate in center Rudy Gobert and a future All-Star in Donovan Mitchell, Utah could be a dark horse next season in a Western Conference that suddenly looks more open because of the injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson.
Following their first-round loss to the Houston Rockets in the playoffs, the Jazz immediately faced questions about what they might do with Derrick Favors.
The 27-year-old has proven to be a vital contributor to this Jazz team, but Utah would also open up a full max salary slot by letting him go. Favors' $16.9 million deal for the 2019-20 season is non-guaranteed until July 6, effectively making it a team option.
However, it appears that the Jazz are intent on bringing Favors back into the fold. In an article by Tony Jones of The Athletic, executive vice president Dennis Lindsey said that the team will almost certainly bring Favors back:
“Derrick Favors isn’t part of the problem,” Jazz executive Dennis Lindsey said. “He’s part of the solution. Of course we want to bring him back.”
Favors was the fourth overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft, but he was soon flipped from the New Jersey Nets to the Jazz as part of the Deron Williams trade.
In eight-plus seasons with Utah, Favors has averaged 12.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.3 blocks. But he has also gone through plenty of peaks and valleys.
Favors looked to be on the cusp of realizing his All-Star potential after the 2015-16 season. He was coming off back-to-back seasons of over 16 points and eight rebounds, and he formed an imposing frontcourt tandem with Gobert.
Unfortunately, Favors struggled with injuries throughout the 2016-17 season, and has since seen a slight drop in some of the scoring load.
That said, his efficiency from the floor has improved drastically, and he is still a solid defensive 4-man. He figures to play an important role once again as the Jazz look to take the next step.
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