Dallas Mavericks: Four Players to Monitor at Trade Deadline

Derrick Favors

Similar to Minnesota, the situation in Utah will lead to the same results: they can’t pay everyone.

Loaded with young talent, the Utah Jazz must decide soon on who they believe will be the cornerstones of the franchise for the next years to come. Rudy Gobert was recently signed to a massive extension while all signs point toward a max contract for Gordon Hayward this summer.

This leaves some decisions to be made on Rodney Hood, George Hill, Trey Lyles and other key figures to the Jazz rotation. A decision that could help Utah keep some of those core pieces would be testing the market for Derrick Favors, who is on the books for over $11 million each of the next two years.

The 25 year-old has been starting in the front court next to Gobert, but has a logical replacement in Trey Lyles behind him. Trading Favors off for picks and a young player would open up cap space for a looming extension for Hood or to help bring back George Hill this summer.

Utah might not have to make a decision this season, but monitoring the situation with Favors would be wise for Dallas.

Next: John Henson