The Derrick Favors trade has hung over the Utah Jazz ever since they blew it up in 2022. The trade happened one year prior, but it was clear it could have been a disaster if Utah has conveyed the lottery pick they would have owed Oklahoma City. Fast forward to now, and not only did they avoid the worst possible scenario, but the Jazz benefited in more ways than one from the Favors trade.
First of all, owing a top-8 protected pick motivated the Jazz to keep tanking, and now they're about to get a lottery pick from a loaded draft. Had that not been there, Utah could have used their firepower to go all in. The season would have been more watchable, but it may have hurt their future.
Second, if Utah had competed this past season, then they may have had to give up more for Jaren Jackson Jr. when they acquired him from Memphis. What worked in their favor is that because they were as bad as they were and because JJJ would opt for season-ending surgery on his knee, they got him at probably his lowest value.
Had the Jazz been playing mediocre basketball, Memphis may have asked for more than what they've got. The hallmark of that deal was draft assets - there's a fair argument the Grizzlies should have asked for more - but had the Jazz been a better team at the time, they may have had to give up more.
As tense as it was to think about the notion that Utah could have helped Oklahoma City was, that obligation may have just given the Jazz to start their most successful era in decades.
They shouldn't do this again though if they can
Even though the Favors trade did not hurt them and even inadvertently helped them, Utah should absolutely avoid a similar situation going forward if they can. This was a situation they didn't mean to get themselves into, but luckily didn't have to pay the price for it in the end.
Imagine how bad things could have gotten if they made the pick top-6 protected. Alternatively, imagine if they had made their protections light in the year before. Since they didn't, there's no need to delve into a situation the Jazz avoided by the skin of their teeth.
Odds are Utah will find themselves in a situation like this again, but if and when they do, it won't be for a while. Luckily, because nothing happened from this, Favors will unanimously be remembered fondly as a Jazzman for the rest of eternity, which is what both he and Jazz fans want.
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