I think most people would say that the season really hinges on Burks and Kanter's continued improvement, on the impact of Quin Snyder's system at both ends and Dante Exum's (limited) minutes at PG. The X-factors are Exum and, to a lesser degree, Gobert.
TBH, I think Favors is every bit as much a trade candidate as Kanter is, especially given the emergence of Rudy Gobert. Kanter is the better scorer, the better offensive rebounder, and has more speed and natural feel out on the floor.