The Utah Jazz saw what happened to the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers and they wanted to no part of it. In other words, they weren’t go to watch their superstar walk for nothing, which is what it appeared would happened after rumors surfaced this week.
In return for Williams, the Jazz received Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first-round picks.
It’s an interesting deal for the Jazz – especially the part that includes Favors. Those who follow basketball spread betting know that Favors was the third overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft and he was expected to be one of the Nets foundational pieces of the future. The Nets did have a gaping vacancy at power forward.
Looking to his future team, though, the Jazz simply don’t have the same type of need for the position.
Utah currently has Al Jefferson locked up for $13 M, $14 M and $15 M over the next three years and they will also be paying Paul Millsap an additional $20.1 M in that span as well. In total that’s $62.1 M that the Jazz are committing to two other power forwards who are on the roster.
So where does that leave Favors?
The short answer is that he’s now in a very crowded frontcourt. Throw in the fact that the Jazz will be paying center Mehmet Okur another $10 M (roughly) over the next two seasons and this trade is starting to make less and less sense for Utah.
We’ll have to wait and see whether the Jazz make another move to get rid of some of this logjam but for now, there’s a lot of money and resources committed to the power forward position on their team.
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Friday, March 4, 2011
Jazz Ship Williams To Nets; Favors Joins A Crowd |
Thursday, May 27, 2010
NBA Draft Prospects: Derrick Favors, Georgia Tech |
Click here to find all of our 2010 NBA Draft prospect breakdowns.
Stats: 12.4 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 2.1 bpg, 61.1% FG
Listed Size: 6'10", 246 lb, 18 years old
About Him: Derrick Favors was one of the most sought after recruits in the class of 2009, and with that came quite a bit of expectation heading into his freshman season at Georgia Tech. While his averages of 12 points, 8 boards, and 2 blocks are far from poor, given the success that freshman have at the collegiate level these days, its hard to say he wasn't a bit of a disappointment.
Some of that wasn't all his fault. For starters, he played on a Georgia Tech team that struggled offensively in the half court, that lacked a true point guard, and that also boasted Gani Lawal in the front court. As gifted as he is, Favors only got 8 FGA per game.
'Gifted' is really the best way to describe Favors right now. He is still just 18 years old, and that youth shows through when talking about his skill set. In other words, Favors has a long way to go on the offensive end before he is much more than a catch-and-dunk kind of player. He doesn't have much of a back-to-the-basket game, and while every once in a while he would hit a pretty looking turnaround or jump hook, he really lacks any semblance of a go-to move. His left hand needs work around the rim, and his ball-handling and jump shot will take some time to get better.
But what makes Favors so enticing is that he is absurdly athletic. He's been compared to Dwight Howard when it comes to his tools, and that may not even be a reach. Favors is 6'8 3/4" without shoes (just 1/4" of an inch shorter than Howard), has a 7'4" wingspan (just a 1/2" shorter than Howard), checks in at 246 lb, and has a frame that can certainly put on quite a bit of muscle (to say he has broad shoulders would be an understatement). Beyond that, Favors can also get off the floor, as his maximum was 12'1 1/2". That's insanely high. Once he adds a bit of muscle to his frame, he should be able to play some center in the league.
Favors is mobile, he has quick feet (although his footwork is still a bit choppy), he can run the floor and finish in transition, and he looked good in the pick-and-roll in the limited opportunities he got with the Yellow Jackets this year. When you are looking for a prototype NBA big man, Favors is the mold you make.
Comparison:
Outlook: Derrick Favors has the potential to be a 24-12-3 player in the NBA, but he has a ways to go before he gets there. If he works hard and ends up in a place that allows him to flourish, there is no reason he can't end up as one of the top five big men in the NBA. But like I said, that is going to take quite a bit of work and a whole lot of coaching.
Highlights:
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Thursday, October 15, 2009
No. 23: 2009-2010 Team Preview: Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
2008-2009 Record: 12-19, 2-14 ACC (12th)
Key Losses: Lewis Clinch (15.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg), Alade Aminu (11.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg)
Key Returners: Gani Lawal (15.1 ppg, 9.6 rpg), Iman Shumpert (10.6 ppg, 5.0 apg), Zach Peacock (9.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Newcomers: Derrick Favors, Kammeon Holsey, Daniel Miller, Brian Oliver, Glen Rice Jr, Mfon Udofia
Gani Lawal and Iman Shumpert will lead the Yellow Jackets this year.(photo credit: NBC Sports)
It isn't that often that you see a team go from worst to first in any league, let alone the ACC. Georgia Tech finished in last place in the league in '08-'09, but with the talent they have returning and a loaded freshman class, there is a good chance the Yellow Jackets make a run to the ACC title.
The biggest reason for that is Derrick Favors. I don't generally like to weigh a team's chances based on freshman, but Favors - like a Kevin Durant or a Michael Beasley - just might be good enough to carry the Jackets. Favors, who many consider to be the best recruit in the country, is an athletic and strong 6'9" power forward. He can run the floor and finish in transition, but he also finishes very well in traffic. Favors is very good on the glass, using his size and athleticism to rebound over smaller opponents. He is a good defender and shot blocker, both on the ball and coming from the weak side. Where his game could stand to improve is on the offensive end. He has some solid back-to-the-basket moves and a pretty good touch from the perimeter, but he needs to improve his consistency.
Favors is far from the only talented kid Paul Hewitt will have in his front court. Joining him along the starting frontline is another 6'9" power forward Gani Lawal. Lawal, who probably would have been a first rounder had he entered the draft last season, has a lot of the same problems that Favors does right now. He's and excellent athlete that will play hard and hustle when he is on the court, but his offensive game is still raw. He doesn't have great hands or feet, he has a tendency to get flustered when posting up, and he has no face-up or perimeter game to speak of. That said, there aren't many bigs across the country with his combination of athleticism and energy. He and Favors form one of the best starting front courts in the country, and it isn't a stretch to see them averaging 35 ppg and 16 rpg combined this season.
The Yellow Jackets will be deep along their front line as well. Zach Peacock, who averaged 9.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg as a junior last season, is probably good enough to start for most schools around the country. His game is a bit more suited to the perimeter than Favors or Lawal because he can knock down jumpers, which is why Hewitt was able to go with three big men last season. 7'0" Brad Sheehan should also see some time up front. Two freshman will be in the mix as well. Kammeon Holsey is a slender, athletic, 6'8" power forward. He is much more of an energy/defense guy at this point. He can defend the wing and the post, runs the floor very well, and can finish above the rim. Daniel Miller is a big body in the paint with a nice touch inside, but may find it tough to earn playing time in this loaded front court.
Hewitt's back court will be anchored by Iman Shumpert. Shumpert, a sophomore, was a McDonald's all-american coming out of high school. Shumpert showed flashes of being a dominant lead guard at this level last season, but was too inconsistent. The biggest issue was his decision making. He had seven games where he turned the ball over at least six times and shot just 39% from the field. Much of that was a result of being forced to try and make a play at the end of the shot clock. But he does have the talent, not only to score but to set up his teammates as well. If Shumpert can ease into the point guard role, not trying to do too much and relying on the talent around him, he can be an above average lead guard.
One of the big question marks is going to be Moe Miller. Miller was solid, if unspectacular, playing as a more typical point guard last season, but he is coming off of a concussion he suffered in a car accident. He is much more of a distributor and typical point guard that Shumpert is, and the two should be effective playing together in the back court. If Miller is unable to go, Hewitt should be just fine with freshman Mfon Udofia playing major minutes. Udofia is a smooth lefty point guard that excels when he can break his man down. He isn't much of a shooter yet, but knows how to set up his teammates where they will be effective and how to run a team.
With last season's leading scorer Lewis Clinch graduating, there will be a lot of minutes opening up on the perimeter, and quite a few candidates to fill the role. The first of which will probably be senior D'Andre Bell. Bell missed all of last season as he battled spinal stenosis, the same injury that has hampered TJ Ford through out his career. Bell is a one of the best perimeter defenders in the ACC. Junior Lance Storrs started a few games last season, but generally was the Jackets sixth man. He is a 6'5" wing with the ability to knock down some threes, but also gained a reputation for being a tough defender. Sophomore Nick Foreman was thrust into playing time early during his freshman season due to injuries to Clinch, Bell, and Miller, although never really proved the ability to be a scoring threat.
Two freshman will be in the mix on the perimeter as well. Glen Rice Jr. is a 6'5" guard, and while he doesn't have his father's jumper, he has a reputation for being a tough, physical kid that can mix it up in the paint and finish inside. Brian Oliver is a 6'6" wing with a solid jump shot, something that could be valuable this year. Georgia Tech doesn't have many shooters, and having Oliver on the court to spread the floor for the big guys inside could be very important for the Jackets.
Outlook: I really like this Georgia Tech team. They are big at every position, have a bunch of athletes on the team, and will play with a loaded front line that includes Derrick Favors (a kid some pundits are already predicting will be a first team all-american). The key to this team will be the back court. Will Iman Shumpert turn into a star? Can Udofia and Miller handle the point guard responsibilities, spreading the ball around and getting guys good shots? Will someone be able to replace Clinch's scoring and shooting ability? But the biggest question won't be on the offensive end, where Tech has plenty of talent. Will this team be able to get enough stops to win some games?
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