The Oklahoma City Thunder are back at it again as Sam Presti acquired yet another future first-round draft pick just hours after 2021 NBA Draft day.
The Utah Jazz are sending a future pick plus Derrick Favors to the Thunder in order to clear salary cap space. This is most likely in an attempt to make room for a potentially massive contract offer to free agent guard and first-time All-Star Mike Conley Jr. This report comes via ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The Utah Jazz have agreed to trade C Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a future second-round pick, sources tell ESPN. Jazz create some financial flexibility and Thunder grab another first-rounder.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2021
The Jazz had been posturing all offseason to find ways to shed salary and moving Favors, whose contract runs for around 20 million in the next two seasons, got them closer to their end goal. With Donovan Mitchell's max salary extensions kicking in from after his rookie scale contract, the Jazz had minimal breathing room to retain his star backcourt mate.
Of course it was the Thunder who were waiting in the wings. This has been Sam Presti's MO for parts of three seasons now, acquiring still-productive veterans from salary-strapped contenders in exchange for future draft assets. Add another first-round pick to the Thunder's seemingly endless war chest.
The Thunder enter next season with both Kemba Walker and Derrick Favors, after exchanging their last set of veterans in George Hill and Al Horford for draft compensation as well. The wheel just keeps turning in OKC.
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