NBA: 10 candidates for bounce-back seasons in 2017-18
7. Derrick Favors
Like many of the players on this list, Derrick Favors‘ 2016-17 season would’ve been better if not for the injury bug. The year before, Favors looked like an All-Star in the making, putting up a career-best 16.4 points, 8.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Unfortunately, his numbers dropped to 9.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season, with injuries limiting him to 50 games. Even worse, his role with the Utah Jazz shrank as he struggled to stay on the court, with his playing time slipping from 32 minutes per game in 2016-17 to 23.7 minutes per game.
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Favors and Rudy Gobert are a potent defensive tandem in the frontcourt, but since neither one can shoot, they aren’t offensively viable. Favors is already on the trade block as an expiring contract and as he approaches unrestricted free agency next summer, now is the time to prove he still has a place in this league.
Since Favors is only 26 years old and so gifted defensively, staying healthy seems to be the biggest obstacle to bouncing back and earning himself a new contract next summer. With Gordon Hayward gone, he has a great opportunity to step up as a go-to option on offense as well.