Utah Jazz: Lakers’ interest in Derrick Favors highlights multiple tough offseason decisions

The Los Angeles Lakers reportedly have interest in Derrick Favors which highlights just one of many decisions facing the Utah Jazz this summer.

As every Utah Jazz fan ought to know by know, their team faces a plethora of tough decisions this offseason. There’s no doubt that the team needs to improve, but there are a number of ways they could go about it. Then again, some or much more feasible than others and at this point it’s nearly impossible to determine what options are readily available and which aren’t.

For example, one of the toughest dilemmas may be whether or not the Jazz opt to improve first and foremost via trade or free agency. If trade is the best option, there is already ample speculation that the Jazz will be going hard after Mike Conley. Adding a player of Conley’s caliber would be an exciting addition. However, it wouldn’t quite as thrilling as landing a free agent of the ilk of someone like Kemba Walker, Tobias Harris or arguably D’Angelo Russell.

So, one might say that the Jazz should simply test the free agent market first and foremost, then go for a trade if they don’t have luck there. The problem with that is, while trades can happen all throughout the offseason, one of the most common times with the best success for trades is during the NBA Draft. And unfortunately, the draft just so happens to take place prior to the start of free agency.

In other words, if the Jazz put all their eggs in the free agent basket, they could very well miss trade opportunities on draft night. If that was followed by striking out in free agency, that could result in a catastrophic summer. On the other hand, if the Jazz go ahead an make a big trade, such as dealing for Conley, during the draft, that would essentially be their lone big move shutting the door on any impactful free agent signings.

As I said, talk about a tough dilemma facing Dennis Lindsey and the rest of Jazz brass. Fortunately, as emphasized in a recent HoopsHype article by Alex Kennedy, in this day and age free agent discussions absolutely take place well before they’re technically supposed to as agents and teams will start communicating as early as the NBA Draft Combine, which is going on currently. As such, hopefully the Jazz can have some sort of idea where they stand in the free agent mix before pulling the trigger on anything earth-shattering.

With all that said, though, a recent rumor that surfaced serves as yet another highlight of all the tough decisions facing the Jazz this offseason. Said rumor involves Utah’s longest tenured player Derrick Favors.

Favors is absolutely beloved among the Utah faithful, including with Jazz management, which makes deciding his future all the more difficult. However, as he has a team option for the remaining year of his contract, the Jazz have a lot of say in his fate. They can either exercise that option and keep him aboard or they can decline the option and let him walk to clear additional cap space that may be required to bring in a new free agent or trade target.

Or, the Jazz also could exercise the option so that Favors’ contract is on the books, then use him as a trade chip to increase the amount of outgoing salary and perhaps enhance the incoming talent. Therefore, even if the Jazz keep Favors past the July 6th date in which they have to decide on his team option, that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s coming back as he could still be dealt after guaranteeing the second year of his contract.

And if in some shape or form, be it by entering free agency or by having his option picked up then placed on the trade market, Derrick Favors becomes available, the recent rumor that I mentioned previously is that the Los Angeles Lakers are highly interested in adding the big man to their ranks.

This report comes courtesy of Sporting News’ Sean Deveney who had the following to say about the Lakers interest in Favors–

"Another guy who, according to sources, the Lakers have an interest in is big man Derrick Favors. The Jazz have a team option on Favors that must be exercised by July 6 or he will be a free agent."

This pursuit likely only happens if the Lakers strike out in the Anthony Davis sweepstakes, and by the sound of this tidbit would likely only occur if Favors became a free agent as a result of his option not being picked up. If such ended up being the case, Favors may very well be interested in listening to the Lakers and considering playing under the bright lights with LeBron James. Then again, former Jazz players (Deron Williams, Kyle Korver, Rodney Hood, George Hill, etc.) haven’t exactly thrived with LeBron so perhaps that will be a red flag.

The fact of the matter is that if the Jazz release Favors into free agency, he’ll be free to go wherever he pleases, be it the Lakers or any other team that he sees fit. However, if Utah instead looks to use Derrick as a trade piece and the Lakers still want to pursue, that’s where things could get interesting.

In the aforementioned Sporting News piece, it’s also mentioned that after the catastrophic ending to the Lakers season in which the young guys were dangled as expendable trade pieces then ultimately stayed with the team shattering any semblance of chemistry the team might have had, it’s unlikely that Los Angeles will want to bring back each of the combination of Kyle Kuzma, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball.

With such being the case, a segment of Jazz fans may get giddy about the prospect of a trade that sends Favors to LA while bringing former University of Utah standout Kyle Kuzma back to Salt Lake City. There’s some logic in this appeal as Kuzma is a better floor-stretcher and playmaker than Favors and could very well fit that elusive ideal power forward model the Jazz have been looking for.

He’s also capable of exploding offensively as he went off for over 30 points seven times this past season including once over 40. He’s good friends with Donovan Mitchell, meaning the fit on the roster and in Utah may make him an ideal long-term fit.

However, in spite of Kuzma’s sexy style of play and flashy numbers, I would hesitate to put him as an upgrade over Derrick Favors who has been absolutely phenomenal in Utah despite oftentimes limited opportunities. Favors can grind with the best of them and isn’t afraid to do the dirty work. He’s a defensive monster, something which Kuzma lacks, and is a commanding post presence and rebounder.

Not only that, but a trade for Kuzma would be tricky on both sides considering the difference in the two players’ salaries. There would have to be additional pieces required and, quite frankly, if either the Lakers or the Jazz are going to look to make a splashy trade this summer, I severely doubt it would be merely for Favors from the Lakers perspective or for Kuzma from the Jazz perspective. Both, perhaps especially the Jazz, have bigger targets in mind as they look to improve this offseason.

Furthermore, Dennis Lindsey has already expressed hesitancy in moving Favors unless it’s for something that really takes the team to a new level. Derrick has become an important part of the Jazz rotation and identity and he won’t be easily let go. Thus, dealing him for a guy like Kuzma which would arguably be a lateral move or perhaps even a downgrade depending on how you look at it probably wouldn’t be the wisest of moves.

The only way I see something like that happening is if the Jazz bring in a point guard without trading Favors, then need to clear space further so they trade Favors to bring in a stretch-four type like Kuz. Still, even that feels improbable and I don’t think the Lakers would take that bait. If anything, it appears that Favors is on their list largely only if he hits free agency and can be brought on without giving up assets.

With all that said, though, it’s not hard to see the kind of tough decisions and hypothetical situations facing the Jazz this summer. In diving in on one key player – Derrick Favors – and one swirling rumor – the Lakers’ interest – you were able to see an incredible number of possibilities.

When you consider the other players the Jazz have to make decisions on both inside and outside of their roster and the multitude of rumors that are certain to continue to arise, it’s not hard at all to see why this summer is going to be so difficult to navigate yet so crucial to do so.

It will be full of several opportunities, but also littered with multiple risks.

What the Jazz decide to do with guys like Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio (assuming he doesn’t just walk) and tradeable players like Joe Ingles, Jae Crowder and others is going to be both fascinating and nerve-wracking to watch. The Lakers are certain to not be the only team interested in Favors and other Jazzmen, meaning that we could certainly see Utah pursue and consider a number of options this summer.

All I can say is, once the dust settles, the Jazz better have made a savvy move that helps them improve in the deep Western Conference. Because their hopes at title contention absolutely depend on it.