Grading each Utah Jazz offseason decision thus far
Re-Signing Derrick Favors
One of the more difficult and controversial decisions (according to fans anyway) facing the Utah Jazz this summer was whether or not to retain Derrick Favors. The longest tenured Jazzman had surely proven his worth, but there were questions about whether or not he was their best option at the four-spot moving forward if the Jazz were to truly be able to overcome the likes of the Golden State Warriors or Houston Rockets.
After evaluating all angles, the Jazz clearly felt that he was, as they extended him a two-year, $36 million contract. Now, some may balk at that amount and view it as a complete overpay, but there’s a few things to remember.
First of all, the Jazz wanted Derrick Favors to stay. And to do so, they needed to reward him for all his sacrifices and efforts as a member of this team, which is exactly what they did with that contract. Secondly, the second year is non-guaranteed giving Utah ample flexibility for next season.
If Favors continues to be the fitting piece, he can be retained moving forward. If by that point the Jazz like some power forward or wing options on the free agency market more, they’ll easily be able to create room. That’s a big win in my book.
Last of all, according to Basketball Insiders’ Eric Pincus, there are incentives built into Favors’ contract that put it up in that $36 million range, but his cap hit is actually less than the reported salary amount as it will be at $16.9 million each year.
Derrick Favors' deal with the Utah Jazz will have a cap hit of $16.9 mil both seasons but could reach $18.8 mil with incentives or drop to $16 mil per. Second year non-guaranteed until 7/6/19 @BBallInsiders
— Eric Pincus (@EricPincus) July 8, 2018
In other words, this contract is yet another one of Dennis Lindsey’s savvy masterpieces that awards the player for living up to expectations, but gives the Jazz some flexibility and insurance should things not pan out. Considering how much I love Derrick Favors, how happy I am to have him back and how much I think it was the right decision to keep him on board, I would have likely given this one a high grade anyway.
After all, Favors has filled his role with the Jazz perfectly in recent seasons, stepping up when needed but taking a secondary role when required as well. As Lindsey stated in a recent press conference, without Derrick Favors, there’s no second round of the playoffs the past two years.
Factor into that the fact that this is such a well-built deal where the Jazz threw extra money at him this summer (when they had no realistic or encouraging options to spend it elsewhere) while preserving their flexibility for next year, and this is simply an absolute win. Call me overly optimistic, but I’m giving the retention of Favors the highest of marks.
Grade – A+