Thunder Annouce Acquisition Of Derrick Favors In Trade With Jazz

The Thunder have acquired forward/center Derrick Favors and a future first-round pick from the Jazz for a 2027 second-rounder and a cash, the team annouced.

“Utah is sending its 2022 first-round pick (top-six protected) to Memphis in another deal, so the first-rounder going to Oklahoma City figures to be in 2024 or later due to the Stepien rule,” noted Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors.

Favors, 30, returned to the Jazz before the start of last season after a one-year stint with the Pelicans. He  averaged a career-low 5.4 points, as well as 5.5 rebounds, in 68 appearances last season, all off the bench. He still has two years remaining on his contract.

The Thunder was likely able to absorb Favors’ contract using a $10.1 million trade exception in acquired in the trade of Danilo Gallinari to the Hawks last offseason.

“That deal may seem unbalanced, but it’s the common price teams have to pay to move off a contract,” wrote Ryan McDonald of the Deseret News. “Essentially the Jazz are giving the Thunder a future first rounder for their trouble of taking Favors’ salary, which is about $10 million in each of the next two seasons.”