SALT LAKE CITY — Notes and quotes from this week's Utah Jazz practices, as they prepare to face the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night at Vivint Arena.

Derrick Favors to start

Derrick Favors will start Friday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves, for the first time since returning from the back and hip issues that cost him 16 games and a full month of play before returning this week.

That's a big deal for the Jazz: Favors was playing at an All-Star level before getting injured and his two games since have been fantastic as well, shooting 11-17 from the floor. He's a big upgrade over Trey Lyles and Trevor Booker, both who should expect to see their minutes diminish in the course of Favors' return.

When asked about how he felt about starting, Favors decided to have a little fun.

"I guess all my hard work paid off. Coach finally believed in me and put me in the starting lineup. Hopefully I can maintain that starting lineup spot and try to help the team win."

Every clichè hit there, Derrick. Well done.

Rudy Gobert's floater

Rudy Gobert's been hard at work since March working on a floater in the lane that he can use as an in between shot. In Monday's game, he made two critical ones to keep the game close in the fourth quarter.

Quin Snyder explained why he's encouraged Gobert to learn the floater: "It's a good shot in that medium range when you don't have jump shot and you're not close enough to dunk. You don't overthink it either. And for him, because of the way he offensive rebounds, he can go back up quickly and not have to gather. It's a really good shot."

Of course, it is unusual to see a gigantic center have a floater in his arsenal, a shot usually reserved for guards who need to get the ball quickly up and over imposing big men. But Snyder said Gobert learning the skill is just another example of the game adapting to the times:

"There was a time people said 'don't throw one-handed passes.' Well, it worked out pretty well for John Stockton."

The next step for Gobert is to start flashing his jumpshot in games, another shot that he works on extensively in practice. I asked Gobert when we'll start to see that.

"It's coming too," Gobert said. "Whenever I'm open, I'm gonna shoot it."

Trade rumors swirling

With ESPN.com's Zach Lowe mentioning numerous trade possibilities for the Jazz in his column on Tuesday, the talk around Jazz fans has been focused on the upcoming trade deadline, now less than a month away.

Right now, the Jazz stand as being tied for the 8th and final spot with the Portland Trail Blazers. Winning that battle and making the playoffs would be great for the franchise and the players.

The major question, though, is whether or not the Jazz are willing to trade long-term assets, including two first-round picks the team acquired in separate trades from Oklahoma City and Golden State, in order to improve the team this season and next.

Snyder's not paying attention to the trade talk.

"I really like our group so much, so it's easy for me to stay focused on the present. I'm not in that world. I'm here and watching our opponents. I'm sure all that stuff is going around out there, but I'm more concerned about the guys we have."

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