Chad Ford writes that the New Jersey Nets seem to have returned to Derrick Favors as their target with the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.
Georgia Tech big man Derrick Favors is back in favor in New Jersey. A league source told me on Wednesday night that after 24 hours of debate, it looks like Favors has re-emerged as the favorite to go No. 3. After a so-so Favors workout on Monday, the Nets began to move toward Syracuse forward Wes Johnson. But with the draft now less than 24 hours away, Favors has re-emerged as the favorite. The news squashes the prevailing theory around the league that drafting Johnson was a precursor to the Nets signing free agent forward Carlos Boozer this summer. Both Johnson and Boozer are represented by the same agent, Rob Pelinka. The source stressed that the decision wasn’t a final one and that the Nets were also exploring potential trade options with the No. 3 pick. But if the draft were held tonight, Favors would be the pick.