Grading the 2021-22 Oklahoma City Thunder veterans

The Oklahoma City Thunder will see Derrick Favors pick up his ten million dollar player option this offseason, but what will his role be next season?

The Oklahoma City Thunder made a trade for Derrick Favors minutes after the 2021 NBA Draft, as Utah sent Favors along with a first-round pick to Oklahoma City while only shipping out a 2027 second-round pick, a second-round selection that will be the least favorable of OKC’s four second-round picks that year.

The Thunder helped the Jazz by taking back Favors’ contract, and the rent has come due as the 31-year-old big man will be owed 10.1 million dollars next season courtesy of his player option which he told those of us in the media during his end of the season press conference that he will be picking up that option.

Last year, Derrick Favors had his worst season shooting at the rim only making 65-percent of his shots at the cup, though he did make 48-percent of his mid-range jumpers representing the second-highest mark of his career only outdone by his 2020-21 season in Utah when he made 53-percent of his mid-range jumper. He continued to be nonexistent from three-point land.

Will Favors be on the opening night roster despite picking up his ten million dollar option? I do not think that is certain. The only thing Presti should aim for this offseason is keeping a clean salary cap sheet in 2023, however, the team can eat all ten million dollars this offseason if they need to create a roster spot.

Derrick Favors does not have much trade value outside of being an expiring salary to make money work in a trade that Oklahoma City could facilitate.

Grade: C, He did nothing on the floor of note, but it does appear he was a great locker room leader and embraced being part of a young team which boosts his grade.