The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: Five power forward options in free agency

By John Keeffer

Milwaukee, WI - MARCH 20: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on March 20, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
Milwaukee, WI - MARCH 20: Jabari Parker #12 of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots the ball against the Utah Jazz on March 20, 2016 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Derrick Favors – Utah Jazz

There is something to be said about just running it all back and seeing what happens. It’s not exciting, and it’s not the sexy move, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the right move.

I recently wrote a large article  about Derrick Favors, and went into specific detail explaining how good the numbers have been with Favors on the floor whether it is shared with Gobert or not. Here’s what I had to say–

"The Jazz were able to prove last season that the combination of Derrick Favors and Rudy Gobert can actually be quite effective in spurts. While sharing the floor together, Utah had an offensive rating of 105.2. During the Playoffs though, their offensive rating when sharing the floor actually jumped up to 114. To put those numbers into context, during the regular season the Utah Jazz had an offensive rating of 106.2, which was good for 15th in the NBA. So offensively, the Jazz typically have at least an average offense when Gobert and Favor share the floor. Looking at the entire season doesn’t tell the whole story though. When the Jazz went on their improbable second half surge, Favors and Gobert were one of the best duos in the NBA. When they were both on the floor, the Jazz outscored opponents by  an incredible 17.1 points per 100 possessions. Their defense was also elite. As a team, Utah had a 101.6 defensive rating during the regular season. Gobert and Favors had a 98 defensive rating over the course of the entire season, but that number improved to a whopping 95 points per 100 possessions from January 24th on."

As far as the numbers go, keeping Derrick Favors makes a lot of sense. Both offensively and defensively, the Jazz can be a top tier team with both bigs on the roster.

The biggest deciding factor for the Jazz is likely going to come down to the offensive side of the ball. Utah’s offense was typically at least average with Gobert and Favors, but bringing a power forward who offers more of an ability to stretch the floor could vault Utah’s offense into the Top 10.

Favors has been working hard to expand his offensive game, but it is just not quite there yet. Last season, Favors took a career high 63 three-pointers. His previous high was the season before, where he attempted 10. It’s great to see that he has a willingness to evolve his game, but the problem is that he only made 13 of those 63 attempts last season, good for just 22 percent.

Based on a survey I ran on Twitter, it is clear where many Jazz fans stand on the decision. More importantly though, it is clear where the Jazz stand.

Next: Utah Jazz set to introduce rookie Grayson Allen

During an interview with 1280 The Zone, Dennis Lindsey stated that the main focus for the Jazz this offseason is going to be retaining Favors. So we already know where they stand. It will largely depend on the price tag he demands on the market, and if he wants to stay with the Jazz. As an unrestricted free agent, the decision is up to him at the end of the day.

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