Jazz big man Derrick Favors has been discussed as a potential trade piece that would go from Utah to Chicago in a hypothetical trade involving Nikola Mirotic, multiple league sources tell Tony Jones of The Salt Lake Tribune. A report on Tuesday indicated that the two teams are engaged in Mirotic talks, which have moved beyond the preliminary stages.
Favors, 26, has enjoyed a solid bounce-back season for the Jazz this year, getting his averages back up to 12.5 PPG and 6.8 RPG, to go along with a solid .551 FG%. He has been particularly effective in the absence of Rudy Gobert, but has struggled to match that production when Gobert is in the lineup, which is a key reason he may be expendable.
Favors’ contract situation also makes him a prime trade candidate for the Jazz and an intriguing target for the Bulls. The former third overall pick is earning $12MM in 2017/18 and will be an unrestricted free agent in July. As such, Utah may want to get something for Favors before losing him for nothing, while his expiring contract would appeal to the Bulls, who don’t want to take on long-term contracts in a Mirotic deal.
Although the Jazz may be willing to include Favors in a trade for Mirotic, it’s not clear if they’d also attach the caliber of draft pick Chicago is reportedly seeking. If the Bulls insist on a first-round pick, Utah might prefer to include someone like Alec Burks, who has another guaranteed year on his contract beyond this season.
The Pistons and Trail Blazers are among the other teams with interest in Mirotic, who will become trade-eligible on Monday.
It works for both sides. Possibly could make one of Felicio, Lopez, Portis expendable.
How does trading two years of Mirotic for one year of Favors work for the Bulls?
Freeing salary?
Why would the Bulls want to move Mirotic for Favors? If they want an expiring contract, they can just decline Mirotic’s option at the end of the year…
Exactly! Utah has to include a 1st w Favors to make it worth while.
Makes sense for the Jazz, not for the Bulls. Maybe as part of a 3-team deal?
Mirotic to Jazz
Favors to Celtics
Morris & Yabusele & Clippers or their own 1st to the Bulls.
Morris and Yabu would be all you get for Favors and his expiring contract. Give the stats a look! You’re not also getting a #1 pick. Maybe if it was Mirotic coming to Boston instead of Favors! Boston has an 8 million dollar injured player exception available….they don’t need to jump this far into the pool to find a big man to get them 12 and 6
This is not even close to fair value all three of those pieces are more valuable than favors.
Then let them complain about rebounding for the rest of the year, just like last year, year before…
You guys are trippin. favors is still relatively young and a perfect fit to play next to markenen. He is playing great when not next to gobert. He is an upgrade over lopez, who they can now trade for a second round pick or something. Dunn, lavine, markenen, favors and draft a Michael porter jr type player in the draft. How can you not like that team?
If they like Favors, then they could sign him in FA. They have a ton of cap space. No need trading Mirotic for a non-asset.
The trade wouldn’t be about Niko for Favors. It’s all about a 1st round pick. The Bulls would most likely not resign him next year.
A mid to late first round pick is not going to translate to an impact player most likely. So if you can get a player that fits a need now, get him. Niko is ok but nowhere near the player markenen will be, so there’s no need to keep him. Favors fits the need of a bruising big man that can play both ends and compliment mark well.
I don’t like the Favors inclusion in a deal for 3 reasons:
1. Favors is not an asset. He’s an ok player on an expiring contract. 2.5 years ago he showed some flashes but generally, he’s not a floor spacing big. With a slashing point guard, you need floor spacing and Favors doesn’t help much with that.
2. If this team trades Mirotic, it needs more than ever to tank hard and Favors as a serviceable big who is better than Felicio makes them winning games more feasible. For a guy who should not be around after this offseason, no point in picking him up.
3. I don’t need GarPax seeing something in Favors and wanting to offer precious cap space to him. That’s the worst case scenario.
Take Joe Johnson’s contract, along with Utah’s 1st, and then cut JJ. Or…don’t trade Mirotic and try to lure a star in the offseason. Pick a lane Bulls!