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As free agency looms, Derrick Favors says ties to Utah will play a role in decision

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz forward-center Derrick Favors is complimented on his T-shirt by the media during exit interviews at the team's practice facility in Salt Lake City Wednesday, May 8, 2018, after losing to the Houston Rockets in Game 5 of their Western Conference Semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs.

Derrick Favors has felt it all during his time in Salt Lake City.

No. 15 was there during the losing skids, during the coaching changes, during the times when the postseason seemed too farfetched to even entertain. The 6-foot-10 power forward remains the original building block for the post-Deron Williams era for the franchise, the longest-tenured Jazzman.

Favors’ emotions on the court have run the gamut while in Utah, eight seasons in all. And they’ll play a role in his decision this summer now that the big man is an unrestricted free agent.

“I’ve been here through the tough times, I been here through the good times,” Favors said Wednesday during Jazz locker cleanout. “It’s kind of like a relationship where you been through so much together where there’s no use breaking it up, so it’ll definitely play a factor this summer with me. I think this team has a bright future.”

But the future is Favors’ to mold for the first time in his professional career. It’s up to him now.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Favors said.

Sorting out the power forward position will be a priority for Jazz brass. General manager Dennis Lindsey said Wednesday the front office and coaching staff will spend time this summer dissecting Utah’s fantastic season-ending run, when the Jazz picked themselves off the mat at 19-28 to make it to the postseason as a No. 5 seed and win a first-round playoff series for a second year in a row.

“When you fall short, it’s human nature, natural inclination to look outside your walls,” Lindsey said. “I would start to look internally to see what we can do to improve.”

Favors played and started a career-high 77 regular-season games this season and started every postseason game until an ankle sprain in Game 3 against Houston forced him to come off the bench in the last two games.

“I knew I would have to sacrifice minutes, sacrifice shots, just sacrifice a lot of individual stuff,” Favors said, “but I was up to the challenge. I had to do what I had to do to help the team win.”

Lindsey eventually referenced Favors’ versatility on the floor having served as a main reason the Jazz were able to upset the L.A. Clippers in the first round last year when center Rudy Gobert went down in the first game of that series.

Favors said he plans on further incorporating the 3-point shot in his offensive skillset this offseason, and he showed his ability this season to defend essentially every position on the floor when called upon.

“I just see myself as a combo big,” he said, “you could say that.”

(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Jazz General Manager Dennis Lindsey and head coach Quin Snyder speak with the media during exit interviews at their practice facility in Salt Lake City Wed., May 8, 2018, after losing to the Houston Rockets in game 5 of their Western Conference semifinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs.

Joe’s jokes

The Joe Ingles Show delivered Wednesday, as it typically does.

Asked about Utah’s impending free agents this offseason, Ingles deadpanned regarding Favors: “Fav said I didn’t need to go on a private jet to see him. Just FaceTime him,” referencing the organization’s chase of forward Gordon Hayward last summer.

When discussing the team’s ability to develop players, Ingles said, “It’s just part of the culture. It’s just what we do. Sometimes we have three-hour practices,” referencing former Jazz forward Trey Lyles, who complained about the length of Quin Snyder’s practices.

Rudy’s kids

Favors stepped to the dais donning a special customized shirt. Pictured is a young Rudy Gobert, small afro, glasses and all, with the words “Rudy’s Kids” below, an ode to Gobert’s foundation Rudy’s Kids, which aims to help children in need. It was obvious Favors was proud of being able to sport the T-shirt.

“My friend got it for me,” Favors said, grinning. “Just supporting his cause. I like the picture. I think it’s a great picture. I support his foundation. Just thought I’d wear it.”

Asked if he’d seen the T-shirt, Gobert said: “It’s a good-looking kid on the front.”