Derrick Favors had his fill of running.
So the Nets rookie, drafted third overall, made both his free throws to end the practice session for the summer league roster team yesterday.
“I didn’t want to run any more, that’s why I hit them,” Favors said of his end-the-practice-or-continue free throws, a situation coach Avery Johnson said was designed to put “a little pressure” on the kid.
Favors passed. In fact, he is passing virtually every test as he impresses with his pure athleticism, reminiscent of Kevin Garnett or Amar’e Stoudemire in their younger days. Favors is just 18 — he will be 19 in 12 days — but his width and emerging bulk are more impressive than those perennial All-Stars had at that age.
“Favors is doing things that you just can’t teach,” Johnson said. “He’s really athletic, he’s strong, his shot is a work in progress. But you’re talking about a guy who’s 6-9 and ¾ or whatever and almost 250 pounds now — we’re going to get him 10 more pounds of muscle. He’s a baby, but he’s like a manchild.”
The Nets are looking for a power forward for now on the free agent market, but are fairly certain they have a power forward for the future on their roster. Thursday was the start of free agency and though many in New Jersey were glued to their TVs or their computers for information regarding the Nets’ quest, Favors, the national High School Player of the Year before he played his one season at Georgia Tech, said he was not following the storylines.
“I went home and went straight to sleep [Thursday],” Favors said. “Two-a-days do that.”
Nets other first-round rookie, Damion James, underwent an MRI exam on his right elbow. Tests were negative. He sat out yesterday after tweaking the elbow Thursday. . . . Johnson said he wants to have the 17-man roster down to 10 or 11 for the Orlando Summer League’s start Monday.