Utah Jazz fans understandably still have fond memories of Derrick Favors. Sadly though, when it was clear he was past his prime in 2021, they got rid of him. Unfortunately, four years later, that trade is still hanging over the Jazz's heads, as they owe the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions, a top-eight pick.
It's hard to say that about Favors. He was a loyal Jazzman through and through who, even years after his time in Utah was finished, has made it clear how much he loved his time there.
Thank you jazz nation! https://t.co/YDqgxwaj1D
— Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) July 15, 2025
But the fact remains the same. Around that time, it was clear Favors had become an albatross, and Utah was trying to salvage the Donovan Mitchell-Rudy Gobert era. His numbers were down across the board even as he embraced being a backup in his last year with the Jazz, and by the time the playoffs rolled around, he didn't get much shine, though he did appear in all of their games.
It seemed simple enough back in 2021. They'd trade Favors along with an asset that likely wouldn't yield much for OKC, but little did they know that they were on the verge of a blowup only one season later, which would last three years.
And that pick has been hanging over their heads for the last two seasons. It was top-10 protected in 2024 and top-10 protected in 2025. Because it didn't convey then, it has now become top-eight protected for this coming season. If the Jazz have a pick within the top-eight, they don't owe anything to the Thunder.
The Jazz were right to get rid of Favors, as painful as that sounds, but sadly it's become more consequential than anyone could have anticipated. It's probably why Utah has made the moves it did this offseason.
It's why the Jazz aren't taking any chances this season
It shocked no one that the Jazz got rid of their trio of quality veterans Collin Sexton, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson. It was just the fashion in which they did it that was shocking. Many expected the Jazz to at least get something out of those three, but they were basically thrown away.
It was a shock, but necessary all the same. Austin Ainge promised that the Jazz wouldn't tank like they did, and while that is true, they will still tank. They did not want to take any chances of potentially giving the Thunder a lottery pick.
They weren't the only ones who had that hanging over their heads, as the Sixers went through something similar (only worse), but they lucked out. The Sixers can take solace in that they had an injury-riddled season and still came away scot-free, so while they hope to be much better this coming season, the Jazz are not.
The Jazz will likely be even worse this season, but that's by design. Because the Derrick Favors trade is still at risk of being a complete disaster, they pulling out all the stops to make sure that doesn't happen.