Thunder big man Derrick Favors expects to exercise his player option for 2022/23 and to be back in Oklahoma City next season, he said today (Twitter link via Joe Mussatto of The Oklahoman).
The three-year deal Favors signed with Utah in 2020 included two guaranteed years and a $10.18MM option for ’22/23. The veteran center was traded from the Jazz to the Thunder during the 2021 offseason and didn’t play a ton for his new team this season, averaging a modest 16.7 minutes per game in 39 appearances. His season came to an early end due to a back issue.
Favors averaged 5.3 PPG and 4.7 RPG in his part-time role for Oklahoma City in 2021/22. Although he’s still a solid rebounder and can score around the basket, the 30-year-old didn’t have much of a role on a rebuilding Thunder team that was more focused on developing its young players.
Once he officially picks up his player option, Favors should be viewed as a trade candidate, since he’ll be on an expiring deal and likely isn’t part of OKC’s long-term plans. However, his $10MM+ salary may be more than some teams are comfortable paying a backup center.
I would too. After next year he’s a vet min guy.
Knicks should trade Kemba and Mitch for Favors. Then Favors can be a mentor for Randle and put him in his place! Meanwhile OKC can buy out Kemba and they have a serviceable center and dont have 2 waste a pick on Homlgren…
So they want to buy out the same guy twice for a below average center? lol
Unless draft picks are attached, I doubt okc has any desire to buy out kemba a second time. I’m sure they have a second they’d part with that is likely going to be way late.
Rest of the trade (Mitchell for Favors) would be beneficial for both teams.
They’re still going to draft a big….I’m also hoping we avoid Chet.
Robinson is an unrestricted free agent, so he could only be included in a sign-and-trade, which is highly unlikely to occur unless it’s an over the cap team trying to acquire him and sending back draft assets and non-guaranteed contracts.
Shocking….
He’ll be included as a salary offset in a bigger bad contract dump this offseason. He’d be a solid bench player on a contender, still, so I’m sure if he isn’t traded to one he’ll receive a buyout and join one.
Still only 30/31. Lets call him well-rested and his back pain from in-activity.
Can we call him a bum at this point, please?
He aint doing the Thunder any favors by picking up that option
Perhaps back to Utah where ‘he and his famile was happy’ as was said before? They likely wouldn’t pick him up though.
I loved DFaves on the Jazz. He’s genuinely one of the coolest, nicest guys. However, chronic back problems are no joke. It makes him play too stiff to be effective. He should take a year off after this contract and see if he can get some alternative treatments done or something. Stem Cell therapy is taking off.