While I agree with some of this (that better players around him will probably have a disproportionately positive effect on his play and he has the best physical tools [/"upside"] on the team), there's been a lot more excuse-making than substance to his improvement and I find that disconcerting.
Like I've said in another thread, this is one reason I love the Gobert pick (how different are there upsides anyway?), because if Favors doesn't make his first leap this year (after everything breaking for him, after year four, after finally getting a real chance, after finally getting a guy that might be able to get him the ball in the right places, and after working under MaSloan), he probably won't make that jump. And if he just stays who he is now but gets numbers because he plays more minutes, he's probably going to get an insane offer and that is nothing but bad news for the Jazz (again, if the Jazz are essentially paying all-star/superstar money to a defensive specialist).
Long story short, this year is make or break for Favors, at least as far as this franchise cornerstone talk is concerned.