Utah Jazz: Derrick Favors – Perennial pro, perennially undervalued

Despite all he has done and continues to do for the Utah Jazz, Derrick Favors seems to always be undervalued by his own fanbase.

Sports fans of any team can be a perplexing and fickle bunch. Such a description undoubtedly applies to those of us in the ranks of the Utah Jazz fanbase as well.

On one hand, we’re always quick to point out how hard it is to find players that want to come play in Utah. When discussing free agency or long-term benefits of trades, the question of whether so-and-so would be willing to stay in Salt Lake City almost always becomes a big-time issue. On the flip side, players who show love or loyalty to the state of Utah and the Jazz organization are often long beloved.

Look at past players such as Trevor Booker or DeMarre Carroll, for example. Neither had what we would refer to as brilliant careers in Utah, but both were solid, played hard and absolutely loved where they played. They’ve made references to as much several times as they’ve moved forward in their careers. Not only did their gritty work ethic and non-stop hustle perfectly fit the DNA that Jazz fans are seeking in their team, but their love for SLC was another huge plus.

For those reasons, several Jazz fans in years past have alluded to loving the idea of bringing guys like Booker or Carroll back home, among others.

However, take these same points of view and let’s now take a look at Derrick Favors. Favors is currently the longest tenured Jazzman and has been an absolute stud ever since coming over via trade. He works his tail off night in and night out, he has sacrificed opportunity after opportunity to do what’s best for this team and he was instrumental in two consecutive first-round playoff series. Without Favs, the Jazz likely would have lost to both LA in 2017 and OKC in 2018.

On top of all that, he’s gone out of his way to express his love for the state of Utah and the Jazz organization. When he was retained this past summer, he penned his own version of Gordon Hayward‘s infamous ‘Thank You, Utah’ letter, but his rendition left his fanbase with a much more satisfying taste in their mouths.

In other words, Favors checks absolutely every box that Jazz fans claim to love in a player. He works hard, puts team first above ego or individual aspirations and he loves the state that he plays in.

So if such is the case, will someone please tell me why so many Jazz fans are so quick to want to trade him away and dispose of him as if he were dirty laundry?

Trade rumors involving Derrick Favors have become one of many constants for the Utah Jazz. It seems practically every year, his name is tied in with some report that suggests the organization is going to deal him. Most recently, that name is Jabari Parker, who The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor reported that the Jazz were interested in. Last year, several members of Jazz Nation were all abuzz at the prospect of trading Favors for stretch-four Nikola Mirotic.

In some ways, I get what’s happening here. Like last year, fans are unhappy with the team’s start and are hoping for a quick solution. Jump-starting the offense by adding Mirotic seemed like a wise move last year to some, and adding a scorer like Parker could seem to pay dividends this season as well, depending who you ask.

However, it’s still mind-boggling to me how quickly people appear to just want to unload Favors. In spite of concerns about fit with Rudy Gobert and lack of floor spacers, Derrick has been a consummate pro during his time with the Jazz. He’s gladly accepted any role thrust on him and has excelled in any assignment he’s been given. As I mentioned, he’s been instrumental in two straight playoff series victories. I don’t think the same could be said for just about any player he’s allegedly been offered for in rumored trades.

In other words, not only does Favors check all the boxes for a type of player that ought to be beloved by the Utah faithful, but he’s also provided far more value than he gets credit for. Even this season, as my J-Notes colleague Josh Padmore recently pointed out, he’s been one of Utah’s most consistent players.

Sure, a quick perusal of his stats would tell you he’s been the least productive of the Jazz starters at just 11.2 points per game, but this has largely been a result of such limited playing time. When looking at his per-36 marks, he’s third on the team in scoring at 17.4 points and second in rebounding at 11 on the dot.

He’s also second on the team in field goal percentage at an exceptional 60.6 percent. And as much as people like to complain about his 3-point shooting, his 29.6 percent mark is better than teammates Dante Exum, Raul Neto and Grayson Allen, and a mere percentage point worse than Donovan Mitchell who fires 6.5 per game, for what that’s worth.

Fans of the struggling Jazz want to point fingers for the slow start, but the truth is that while Favors might be an easy target, the issue is far from on him. It’s a collective one that anyone who has followed this year’s schedule or Quin Snyder’s track record knows can be corrected.

It’s simply perplexing to me to see a guy like Favors who has done nothing but give his all for the Jazz, and has been one of the team’s most consistent producers when given the opportunity be treated as mere trade bait. He’s worth so much more and has given far too much to this team to be seen as such.

All the while, Favors simply remains professional and even-keeled despite the trade rumors. He’s become so accustomed to them at this point that he doesn’t even let them bother him and instead finds motivation and entertainment from the constant reports that he’s on the trade block. Despite supposedly constantly being shopped, rather than complain or request a trade or change, he’s handled every bit of adversity like a complete and total pro.

Derrick Favors’ class knows no bounds. And he deserves infinitely more respect from his fanbase for that rather than being viewed as little more than a trade chip just waiting to be dealt.

Time will tell whether the trade rumors that have followed Favors for seasons will ultimately come to fruition or not. I honestly hope not, and certainly hope they don’t for hapless defender Jabari Parker of all players.

Favors’ value to this team is far greater than he gets credit for. That’s why the Jazz front office made it such a priority to re-sign him this summer and why he was so willing to stay. Despite the team under-performing so far this season, Favs knows this team can be something special and that he can be a part of that.

He has and continues to contribute far too much to this team to be viewed as a mere trade chip and has been as professional about things as anyone could expect. It’s high time he was valued for these contributions by his own fanbase as he deserves rather than being overlooked and underappreciated as he has every time a new trade rumor surfaces.