Derrick Favors talks trade rumors, cryptic tweets at Jazz practice


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SALT LAKE CITY — The trade deadline is Thursday, and the Jazz play again Friday against Milwaukee. Wednesday night, the Jazz held their first practice back from the All-Star break.

Favors' tweet on the swirling rumors

This week, ESPN reported that the Jazz have "tested the market" for Derrick Favors. One thing that seemed to lend those rumors some credibility was this tweet from Favors Tuesday night:

> 🤔 > > — Derrick Favors (@dfavors14) [February 22, 2017](https://twitter.com/dfavors14/status/834229755083829249)

Naturally, with Favors in practice Wednesday, we requested to speak to Favors, and asked him why he tweeted that.

"I was just participating. I was just being on Twitter. Just using it. I just tweeted that. It was just a tweet idea, it wasn't that big. Just a tweet," Favors said. "Nothing to do with the team, nothing to do with nothing, just a tweet. Just using Twitter."

That's maybe the most dedicated non-answer I've ever heard. Nobody just tweets a thinking emoji for no reason, it's because they're thinking about something. Favors was probably considering something (not nothing) that he also didn't want to tell us about. Whether that's basketball or not, we can't tell. But I do give Favors credit for his dedication to the "just using Twitter" answer.

I also asked if he was in contact with Jazz general manager Dennis Lindsey or his agent, Wallace Prather, during the deadline period.

"I don't talk to nobody. I already have been through it before, so I know how it works. If something happens, you get that call from your agent or whatever. But I don't talk to anybody," Favors said. "If I'm here, I'm here, if I'm not, I'm not."

Again, I'm skeptical that even Favors' agent isn't keeping him informed. After all, that's his job. Indeed, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported this, from Prather:

Agent Wallace Prather does not anticipate his client Derrick Favors being traded before the deadline, based on Prathers' knowledge of the offers the Jazz have received. However, Prathers said he realizes that could change as the deadline approaches.

If Prather's talking to the media, he's almost certainly talking to his client.

Like MacMahon, and 1280's Spence Checketts, I don't think it's likely that the Jazz trade Favors. I've also heard that the Jazz's offers haven't been to their standard. But the tweets certainly make me wonder if there's something happening that I don't know about. Or they're all just having fun teasing all of us with it.

Hood back at practice

Rodney Hood was back at practice Wednesday for the first time since Feb. 1, when he reinjured his knee and sprained a knee ligament. He was only a partial participant, though.

"The goal was to shoot for Milwaukee, but today was my first day being out there at full speed," Hood said. "I have to see how my knee reacts to it."

The Jazz will do some sort of practice tomorrow, and they'll see how Hood's knee responds then as well, before deciding on Friday if Hood will play on the road in Milwaukee.

Hayward back from All-Star

Gordon Hayward came back from his first All-Star appearance. What did he think of his time there?

"It was fun to go down to New Orleans," Hayward said. "Overall, it was a good first experience for me. Hopefully, I can go back again sometime."

After the All-Star game, Hayward traveled to San Diego to spend a few days relaxing. That's thanks to the new extended All-Star break, which gives even All-Stars a few days off without all of the All-Star weekend responsibilities. "It would have been rough for sure to go to New Orleans and have to come back," Hayward said. "I'm happy I got to do both."

What was his favorite part of the All-Star experience?

"I think it was just all the time spent with the guys. Just in the locker room," Hayward said. "I couldn't pin it down to just one interaction." Hayward clearly enjoyed being with All-Stars from around the Western Conference, and considering himself one of that group. Laughing with Russell Westbrook in practice is one example:

> Mood. 😄[\#GordonHayward](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GordonHayward?src=hash) [\#RussellWestbrook](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussellWestbrook?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/Aabh81Hb0V](https://t.co/Aabh81Hb0V) > > — Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) [February 18, 2017](https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/833027067348414465)

Next step: keeping up the All-Star performances through the Jazz's remaining 25 games, including 15 on the road. They'll be competing with a healthy Clippers team, and they're half a game behind. We'll see who wins the race.

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Andy Larsen

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