If you’re unaware of just how pivotal this upcoming offseason is set to be for the Utah Jazz, it’s possible that you’ve been living under a rock. After three straight postseason appearances but zero advancements beyond the second round, it’s clear that for the Jazz to be able to compete with the best of the best, they need to make some enhancements.
Every time the Jazz have opted to stick with Favors, he’s rewarded them with solid play and big moments. Make no mistake, keeping Derrick has been well worth the money as he’s helped the Jazz be a better team on several occasions.
However, therein also lies a dilemma. In order to get better this summer, the Jazz are going to have to upgrade and replace someone (or multiple someones). They can’t simply run it back with the same team as they did a year ago if they want to actually advance. In other words, some players are going to have to be dealt, let loose or moved on from.
By nature of the team option on his contract for the 2019-20 season, Derrick Favors is definitely one of those players that the Jazz have to consider parting ways with, hard though it may be. Teams don’t get better without taking risks, and though any transaction involving removing Favors from the team would be risky, in the right situation it could very well be worth it.
As such, I’ve opted to take a look at the Derrick Favors dilemma from multiple angles to discuss why the Jazz should and shouldn’t keep him next season. With that backdrop, let’s commence with the negative and look at three reasons why Utah should consider moving on from Favs this upcoming offseason.
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<p>— The J-Notes (@TheJNotes) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/TheJNotes/status/1129824126074408960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 18, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Therefore, Derrick Favors expiring contract as well as his skill as one of the best players on the Jazz squad suddenly make him one of the most appealing trade assets Utah has. There’s already speculation that the Jazz could go hard after <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/conlemi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Mike Conley</a> of the Memphis Grizzlies and it’s hard to see that getting done now without including Derrick Favors. Favors wouldn’t have had to be included at the deadline, but now with Rubio and others out of the mix, Derrick’s contract will likely be needed.</p>
<p>In summary, the Jazz have to improve somehow, and realistically, regardless of if they bring in a point guard, power forward or any other position they manage to wrangle for that matter, it looks very much probable that Derrick’s salary will have to be removed off the books to make it happen. Painful though it is to say, it’s hard to see Utah having the flexibility to add the talent they crave without sacrificing the skill and exceptional play of Derrick Favors in return.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Case For Favs - No. 1 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SALT LAKE CITY, UT – DECEMBER 6: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz blocks a shot by James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets during their game at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on December 6, 2018 in Salt Lake City , Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>He makes Utah’s defense dynamic and can do things Rudy can’t do</h3>
<p>But enough of the doom and gloom about Favors not fitting on the team and the Jazz needing a replacement. Because as easy as it is to identify ways his role could be enhanced, there are also just as many strong arguments about why the Jazz should keep him on board. First among those is the fact that the combo of Favors and Gobert, for all its uncertainty offensively, makes the Jazz an absolute force to be reckoned with on defense.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
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<p>That’s true to quite an extent when both are on the floor together as the twin towers, or the Wasatch Front as some would call them, can clog the paint and make life miserable for opponents trying to get to the rim. Both are long, lengthy and daunting defenders that have played crucial roles in Utah’s top-tier defense.</p>
<p>However, I think what the two provide when they aren’t on the floor together is even more riveting. First of all, when Gobert goes out and Favors comes in, the Jazz lose very little in terms of rim protection. Yes, Gobert is certainly better in that regard, but going up against second units as the primary rim protector has been a role in which Derrick has thrived. With both Gobert and Favors on the roster, the Jazz can go 48 whole minutes without any weakness in the paint.</p>
<p>Not only that, but there are things that Favors can do that Rudy simply can’t. A lot of those are on offense where Derrick’s mid-range game, ball-handling in the pick-and-roll and overall offensive repertoire is wildly better than Rudy’s. However, on defense Favors has some edges as well.</p>
<p>He’s much more capable of defending stretch-bigs out on the perimeter with better foot speed and lateral movement, meaning that when opposing teams go small, Favors absolutely is the better option than Gobert at the center spot. In the most recent playoff series against the Houston Rockets, Favors played an enormous role in the Game 4 victory, and his lack of playing time in Game 5 was one of my biggest criticisms of the contest.</p>
<p>I truly believe Favors was the better matchup against a fast-paced, high-octane Houston offense that oftentimes forced Gobert alone on an island. By keeping Derrick Favors around, the Jazz would be allowed heightened flexibility against various teams in the league. Oftentimes, Rudy Gobert is the easy choice. But on other occasions, the Jazz need Derrick Favors to change their defensive look and defend smaller units.</p>
<p>Keeping him on the roster to have that luxury, especially come playoff time, is worth potentially over-paying a guy who doesn’t get quite the minutes he deserves. The versatility and stinginess defensively that Favors provides for the Jazz is a vastly underrated aspect of what he brings to the team.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Case For Favs - No. 2 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">SAN ANTONIO, TX – FEBRUARY 3: Derrick Favors #15 and Ricky Rubio #3 of the Utah Jazz celebrate a win against the San Antonio Spurs on February 3, 2018 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>He deserves a chance to show what he can do with a better shooting lineup</h3>
<p>Say what you will about Derrick Favors, but make no mistake about it, he has given his heart and soul to this Jazz team, and has sacrificed more than anybody since the rise of Rudy Gobert. Rather than feel disgruntled with his role on the team, complain or hang his head, he’s simply gone to work. He’s worked hard to adapt his game to the modern NBA and continues to improve in the ways he’s asked to in order to better co-exist with the Stifle Tower.</p>
<p>In so doing, and by being such a high-character guy both on and off the floor, he’s won over the hearts of Jazz Nation to an incredible degree. That love doesn’t simply come because he’s a nice guy or a fan favorite, it’s because he’s been an important part of the team for years and his contributions haven’t gone unrecognized.</p>
<p>As such, Derrick Favors deserves a chance to return to this Jazz roster and show what he can do when the team as a whole has him in a better situation. To do this, the Jazz need to up their shooting, beginning with their starting point guard, then see what the combo of Favs and Rudy can accomplish.</p>
<p>This won’t be easy – as I said, for Utah to pull in a big-time improvement it will likely require trading or releasing Favors – but it’s absolutely worth the effort. Dennis Lindsey himself said during end-of-season interviews that Derrick isn’t a part of the problem, but rather a part of the solution, and I completely agree. There’s fathomable ways that the Jazz could get better by parting ways with Favs, but I truly believe they’re ultimate ceiling is by keeping him on board and making upgrades elsewhere.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">"Derrick Favors isn't part of the problem. He's part of the solution," Dennis Lindsey says</p>
<p>— Ryan McDonald (@ryanwmcdonald) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/ryanwmcdonald/status/1121449865068728321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 25, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dennis Lindsey is incredibly less emphatic about the prospect of Ricky Rubio returning than he was about Derrick Favors, FWIW</p>
<p>— Ryan McDonald (@ryanwmcdonald) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/ryanwmcdonald/status/1121453437466505216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 25, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>If the Jazz are able to make said enhancements, eliminating many of the issues that arose from the Rubio-Favors-Gobert trio, Favors could very well have an even more significant impact in such a scenario. Based on all he’s shown throughout his career as a Jazzman and the splendid season he had in 2018-19 despite logging the fewest minutes since the 2011-12 season, Favors absolutely deserves that chance.</p>
<p>If he were a starter in an optimal situation, he’d easily be averaging a double-double night in and night out. That may not be feasible for as long as he’s on the same roster as Rudy Gobert, but those are still the kind of beastly numbers he’s capable of putting up. Rather than looking to quickly dismiss him for improvements that may be mitigated by the void Derrick would leave, the Jazz should attempt first and foremost to keep Derrick around and allow him to showcase what he can do with a more dynamic backcourt on his side.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Case For Favs - No. 3 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">DALLAS, TX – NOVEMBER 14: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz reacts after being called for a flagrant foul against the Dallas Mavericks in the fourth quarter at American Airlines Center on November 14, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>Derrick Favors has been hugely responsible for Utah’s playoff success</h3>
<p>When looking at Utah’s playoff performances the past three seasons, it’s easy to suggest very specific players who brought about their successes. Against the LA Clippers, <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsjo02.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Joe Johnson</a> played hero in Game 1, hitting a buzzer beater to earn a crucial Jazz victory. Against the Oklahoma City Thunder the next season, Ricky Rubio handled <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/westbru01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Russell Westbrook</a>, and Donovan Mitchell was prolific.</p>
<p>Lastly, while the Jazz only won one single playoff game in 2019, yet again Donovan Mitchell’s heroics – a 31-point outpouring on his most efficient outing of the playoffs – were largely credited for the victory. However, beneath all those flashy and outstanding performances, the play of one person in the background stands out to me even more. Of course the man I’m referring to is Derrick Favors.</p>
<p>In Game 1 against the LA Clippers two years ago, sure it was Johnson that hit the game winner, but it was a less than fully healthy Derrick Favors who stepped up in the absence of Rudy Gobert and willed the Jazz to an incredible victory. He was exceptional all series long including in a pivotal Game 7 where his 17 points helped put the Clips away for good.</p>
<p>The story was the same in 2018. Derrick Favors was incredible as he put up double figures in all but Game 1 of the series against Oklahoma City. There’s no way the Jazz win Game 2 that year without him as he put up 20 points and pulled down 16 rebounds – eight of them offensive – and the same can probably be said for Games 3 and 4 as well. Favs was far too much for OKC to handle and led directly to victory.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Dennis Lindsey said he absolutely would like to have Derrick Favors back on the roster next season. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/utahjazz?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#utahjazz</a> <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#NBA</a></p>
<p>— John Coon (@johncoonsports) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/johncoonsports/status/1121449666376130560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>April 25, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Lastly, as I’ve already touched on, in Utah’s lone playoff win this season, Derrick was in my mind far and above the hero. His offensive rebounds down the stretch were vital to the victory, and his relentless hustle and effort all game long were largely the reason the Jazz came out on top. The fact that he was granted only 18 minutes the following game after that performance still irks me to no end.</p>
<p>So what’s my point in all this? Well, if it wasn’t already overwhelmingly clear, it’s that when the going gets tough and the stakes are at their highest, that’s when Derrick Favors is at his best. Without Favors, the Jazz likely don’t advance to the second round in either of the aforementioned series and likely would have been swept this year. His ability to step up in the playoffs and give the Jazz an extra edge is as invaluable as could be.</p>
<p>Considering how crucial he’s been in the postseason alone, the Jazz should definitely think twice before just parting ways with him this summer. He’s directly responsible for much of Utah’s success, which is a fact that can’t be overlooked.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> The Consensus </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 8: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz shoots the ball during warm-ups before the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 8, 2019 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)</p>
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<h3>The Consensus</h3>
<p>As I said to start this piece, the Utah Jazz face an extremely tough decision regarding Derrick Favors this summer. There are strong arguments on both sides of whether to keep him or not. And honestly, the unfortunately vague answer here of what Utah should do is that it likely depends on what options become available.</p>
<p>If the Jazz can add a game-changing talent such as Tobias Harris, Kemba Walker or Mike Conley and there’s no other ways that it can be done without letting Favors go, then the Jazz probably have to and will do it. Seeing the longest tenured Jazzman who has been a consummate pro and worked his tail off in Salt Lake City would be a tough pill to swallow. But it’s undeniable that the Jazz need to improve, and getting rid of Favors could be the only route to do so.</p>
<p>With that said, if there’s any way that the Jazz could add those caliber of players without dismissing Favors, then they should absolutely pursue it. And I mean absolutely. Some may disagree with me on this, but outside of Mitchell and Gobert, I’d aim to move any other Jazz player before I’d give up on Favors. And, yes, that includes the likes of <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/inglejo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">Joe Ingles</a>, Jae Crowder and Royce O’Neale.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">ICYMI: Derrick Favors says he wants to be back. His teammates want him back. GM Dennis Lindsey said he's "not part of the problem, he's part of the solution." And yet, many believe the Jazz's best way to improve is letting him go. <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://t.co/w8JTngtgHB">https://t.co/w8JTngtgHB
<p>— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) <a href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://twitter.com/tribjazz/status/1124733054960820224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>May 4, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>It’s in no way a stretch to say Favors is Utah’s third best player, and if his opportunity were greater, he would show that full force. His reliability in the playoffs has been impeccable and the Jazz would be wise to hold on to him if at all plausible. As Dennis Lindsey said, he’s a part of the solution, not the problem.</p>
<p>As I mentioned earlier, I truly believe the Jazz’s ceiling includes keeping Favors on this squad. He brings so much on both ends of the floor that just can’t be overlooked. That said, Utah has to make improvements. And if dealing or releasing Favors is the only way to make something transcendent happen, then, tough though it would be, it has to happen.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Utah Jazz: Lakers’ interest in Derrick Favors highlights multiple tough offseason decisions" data-url="https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/18/utah-jazz-lakers-interest-derrick-favors-highlights-multiple-tough-offseason-decisions/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #00265D" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/19/utah-jazz-three-reasons-keeping-derrick-favors/"https://thejnotes.com/2019/05/18/utah-jazz-lakers-interest-derrick-favors-highlights-multiple-tough-offseason-decisions/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Utah Jazz: Lakers’ interest in Derrick Favors highlights multiple tough offseason decisions </a> </div>
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<p>But the Jazz should explore every other potential course of action before doing so. Favors is a key piece of this team that has proven he has a right to stay. Moving on from him shouldn’t quite be seen as a last resort, but it should be pretty dang close. If it’s possible to improve significantly in other areas, the Jazz should do so while also keeping Derrick Favors in their midst.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">