Derrick Favors - what's his ceiling?

[Andrew Wiggins]

he's flown under the radar the past 3 years because he's playing on a bad team but he's only 23 years old and has improved every season.

and is averaging 16/8/2 blks on 54% from the field with only 2.5 fouls per game

those are excellent numbers for a young big man and he's doing consistently holding his own against the best bigs in the west. i haven't seen him as often as i would like so my question to those who do watch him regularly is how good can this kid be? good 2nd/3rd option? occasional all star? perennial all star?

[RightTwoCensor]

Poor man's STAT

[Practice?]

Feels like he has already been in the league forever.

[Nastradamus]

Plays like a poor man's Dwight. Very valuable because he defends, is efficient and doesn't need the ball a lot

[Giaodollo]

Plays like a poor man's Dwight. Very valuable because he defends, is efficient and doesn't need the ball a lot

His defense was supposed to be better, he is quick for his size and posses a good wingspan but in between still being young, playing with a young team with no direction and having to live up to being the replacement to Millsap and AJ he hasn't put it all together. Next season I feel one of Kanter or Favors needs to be traded or Kanter just doesn't get signed. Gobert is here to stay, he is already better than both and there is no place for all three of them.

Kanter has more offensive potential and would be a better fit beside Gobert but you won't get back Favors value in a trade, we'll see what management does in the off season.

Offensively he is good inside but he still struggles with shots outside the paint.

[Dengness9]

I think the thing about Favors is this.....his growth was slightly stunted from being traded so early on in his career for Deron. But when you consider he has 4 years experience and is only 23? The kid be in line for some nice years in his prime.

But what team he will be on is uncertain. That will be the biggest factor of what he becomes. He's never been on anything close to resembling a playoff team.

Utah has a good problem to have with the 3 man big rotation it has.

[Levity]

He has really improved his high pick and roll game. Kind of interested to see how he turns out in the next 2 seasons.

[Nastradamus]

His defense was supposed to be better, he is quick for his size and posses a good wingspan but in between still being young, playing with a young team with no direction and having to live up to being the replacement to Millsap and AJ he hasn't put it all together. Next season I feel one of Kanter or Favors needs to be traded or Kanter just doesn't get signed. Gobert is here to stay, he is already better than both and there is no place for all three of them.

Kanter has more offensive potential and would be a better fit beside Gobert but you won't get back Favors value in a trade, we'll see what management does in the off season.

Offensively he is good inside but he still struggles with shots outside the paint.

This is all fair. Gobert/Kanter might be the best possible fit/value combination they have. Use Favors and one of their young perimeter players to add a stud G. Say, Favors and Burke for a star G if you can find it.

[hawksdogsbraves]

This is all fair. Gobert/Kanter might be the best possible fit/value combination they have. Use Favors and one of their young perimeter players to add a stud G. Say, Favors and Burke for a star G if you can find it.

What team is trading a star guard for Favors and Burke?

Bledsoe is really the only name who comes to mind, but do they want a PG if they're developing Exum? There aren't really young stud SG's to be found out there, and certainly not in exchange for Derrick Favors.

[T_L_P]

I love what I've seen from Favors. I think he's a very good defensive player and he can carve out a niche for himself on offense. Like the above poster said, he's not good enough to be a dominant inside player and he still struggles from the outside. I don't think they were expecting 1st option potential from him anyway.

Utah need to get rid of Kanter though. He's a terrible player.

[Milbuck]

I love what I've seen from Favors. I think he's a very good defensive player and he can carve out a niche for himself on offense. Like the above poster said, he's not good enough to be a dominant inside player and he still struggles from the outside. I don't think they were expecting 1st option potential from him anyway.

Utah need to get rid of Kanter though. He's a terrible player.
How is Kanter terrible?

[T_L_P]

How is Kanter terrible?

I'm a defense-first guy.

His offense is alright, I guess. I'm pretty sure he's a good offensive rebounder (he has been in the games I've seen), and he's a good enough finisher inside. Other than that I don't know what he brings to offense. No outside game, no passing ability, screens are kind of lazy.

My biggest problem is his defense. He's honestly one of the 5 worst defensive big men in the entire league.

[sammichoffate]

I'm a defense-first guy.

His offense is alright, I guess. I'm pretty sure he's a good offensive rebounder (he has been in the games I've seen), and he's a good enough finisher inside. Other than that I don't know what he brings to offense. No outside game, no passing ability, screens are kind of lazy.

My biggest problem is his defense. He's honestly one of the 5 worst defensive big men in the entire league.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2NdSk7PWIo

[Xiao Yao You]

I'm a defense-first guy.

His offense is alright, I guess. I'm pretty sure he's a good offensive rebounder (he has been in the games I've seen), and he's a good enough finisher inside. Other than that I don't know what he brings to offense. No outside game, no passing ability, screens are kind of lazy.

My biggest problem is his defense. He's honestly one of the 5 worst defensive big men in the entire league.

He's a great offensive rebounder. Jazz lead the league. He leads the team. He's shooting 33 % from beyond the arc after never shooting them before. Just starting to gain confidence out there. Great post game. Great FT shooter. He needs to learn to pass out of double teams. Defense improving. Not even 23. He gets better every game like Gobert. Favors never really showed improvement until this year and that's mostly because they are using him more effectively I think.

Favors isn't the great defender he was supposed to be when they stupidly let Millsap go. Needs to extend his range out to 3 to play with Rudy and show he can guard the perimeter. Post game is weak. Good when he is moving towards the basket or spotting up around the FT line.

Might be able to keep all 3. Along with Hayward and Burks they are their best players right now. If Favors or Kanter can stay happy coming off the bench or rather they can afford to pay Enes and Favors with Hayward and Burks also on the books for a lot of money remains to be seen.


Utah already have Exum and Burke at the point, Burke could be a good backup for Exum if he pans out and they already have Hayward as a 3. That only leaves the SG so yeah you are right. If they can grab Hezonja in this years draft it they have a nice future.

Exum is a D-leaguer right now and Burke is trying to prove he can be a back-up in the league. PG is their weakest postition easily. They've needed a vet the past couple years(other than John Lucas) to mentor them. Their best pg right now is in Spain. Hopefully he'll be on the team next year with a vet. The tanking needs to stop. They should be fighting for the last playoff spot right now if they'd put together a competitive roster.


Bledsoe is really the only name who comes to mind, but do they want a PG if they're developing Exum?

Exum can guard 2's and 3's and is a pass first pg so putting a shoot first pg next to him could certainly work. They play Burke and Exum together now and I'm guessing you could see 3 together next year with Neto or a vet too.


He's never been on anything close to resembling a playoff team.

You mean other than the year he started in the playoffs?