"Just before the NBA locked its doors July 1, the Jazz made a last-minute trip to Atlanta to check in on a special assignment.

Utah power forward Derrick Favors did all the right things toward the end of the 2010-11 season, averaging 9.6 points and 6.7 rebounds during April as he began to deliver on the promise of being the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft. The Atlanta native also said all the right things during his April 14 exit interview, assuring Utah coach Tyrone Corbin and general manager Kevin O' Connor that no matter how long the league's work stoppage dragged on, he'd be primed and ready to go as soon as he received a call informing him that it was safe to return to the professional game that he was just beginning to feel comfortable playing."