Utah Jazz: A far-too-early look at potential free agent targets this summer
Derrick Favors
Current Team: Utah Jazz
Status: Unrestricted
What I like:
Last but not least, how could we forget the Utah Jazz’s very own Derrick Favors who will hit unrestricted free agency this summer. There’s a lot that I, and I imagine most other Jazz fans, love about Derrick Favors, but to put it lightly, perhaps the best is that he’s become everything you would want in a Jazzman.
He plays hard and has been absolutely professional in his time in Utah and is now the longest tenured Jazzman currently on the roster. Many have questioned his fit alongside Rudy Gobert, but especially since Rudy’s healthy return, the two of them have been exceptional together.
He’s also an underrated defender who creates a daunting force sometimes referred to as the Wasatch Front when he plays alongside Gobert. He has an exceptional chemistry with this entire team, perhaps most importantly with Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell.
What I don’t like:
The biggest concerns with Favors include whether or not he wants to stay in Utah and what it will cost to keep him. There were previously several reports that Favors was unlikely to re-sign with the Jazz no matter what, but he later refuted that. If he wants to stay, I think the Jazz may very well look to keep him.
The only concern there, though, is that one might wonder if Favors is exactly the right piece that’s going to propel the Jazz to contender status as their starting power forward. There’s no questioning that Utah would like a more versatile stretch-four that can shoot and defend, and while Favors is working on the shooting part and has the defense, the Jazz may seek a more fitting option.
Final Thoughts:
Personally, I’m a huge fan of Derrick Favors and if he wants to stay and can be retained at a reasonable price, I really could see him being an important part of Utah’s core moving forward that helps them become a force in the West. However, I can also see him wanting a bigger role as the starting center on a different team that is perhaps willing to pay him even more.
Or on the other hand, the Jazz could feel it better to start anew and seek out a more versatile power forward in an attempt to take another significant step forward rather than sticking with the old plan. If the Jazz do end up parting ways with Favors, I’ll certainly be disappointed, but more than likely I will understand their motives behind it as I’m sure they’ll have a solid contingency plan.
Next: Can Utah Jazz get home court advantage in first round of the playoffs?
The current Utah Jazz roster has been phenomenal as currently constructed, but I think it’s safe to say that the team could be in for some fun and exciting changes this summer with several free agent options to pursue and ample cap space to utilize.