Utah Jazz: 3 reasons keeping Derrick Favors is a good move
By Amaar Burton
The Utah Jazz are keeping the core of an up-and-coming contender together by reaching an agreement to bring back big man Derrick Favors.
Going into his first summer as an NBA free agent, Utah Jazz big man Derrick Favors made it known he planned to explore his options and make the smart decision.
Apparently, he did not need a lot of time to make that decision.
After meeting with multiple teams on Sunday, Favors agreed on Monday to re-sign with the Jazz, the team he’ss spent seven and a half of his eight pro seasons with.
The two-year deal is worth $32 million, with up to $5 million more in additional incentives, per Yahoo! Sports‘ Shams Charania.
Free agent forward Derrick Favors has agreed to terms on a deal to remain with the Utah Jazz, league sources tell The Salt Lake Tribune
— Eric Walden (@tribjazz) July 2, 2018
Favors was an integral part of a team that was surprisingly good last season.
After the lost All-Star small forward Gordon Hayward as a free agent in the summer of 2017, they were expected to take a significant step back from winning 51 games and advancing to the Western Conference semifinals in Hayward’s last season there.
But thanks in large part to a dynamic new backcourt (Ricky Rubio and Donovan Mitchell) and the eventual NBA Defensive Player of the Year (Rudy Gobert), the Jazz won 48 games and made it back to the postseason, where they again advanced to the second round.
Favors averaged 12.3 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as Utah’s starting power forward.
The Jazz are the best fit for Favors, and vice versa. Here are three reasons keeping him was a good move for the team.