2019 NBA Free Agency: Grading every deal the Pelicans have made thus far
By Nolan Jensen
Derrick Favors
While this acquisition differs from the previous in the fact that Favors was traded for and not signed as a free agent—it should still be on this list.
My (likely) final story for The New Orleans Times-Picayune:
— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) July 1, 2019
Pelicans set to acquire Utah's Derrick Favors in a deal. https://t.co/jFwdIWXoN4
If you were to do a deep dive into what Derrick Favors has managed to accomplish throughout his 9-year career thus far, you’d probably be shocked at how underappreciated the big man is. He’s not the flashiest player in the league, he has no presence of a three-point shot—there’s no stretch 5 potential—but what he does well….he really does well.
Derrick Favors' per-36 stats with/without Rudy Gobert last season:
— Michael Gallagher (@MikeSGallagher) July 2, 2019
With Gobert (739 min): 14.2 points, 8.0 boards, 1.3 dimes, 1.0 steals, 1.7 blocks on 49 FG%.
Without Gobert (1,028): 21.2 points, 13.8 boards, 2.2 dimes, 1.2 steals and 2.5 blocks on 65 FG%.
Could be a stud in NO.
He’s steady, he’s a strong defensive anchor that also won’t impede the flow of your offense on the other end of the court. He’s 4th amongst active players in block percentage (4.0) and finished 18th in the NBA last season with a TS% of 62.4 percent. In the 17/18 season, he compiled a win share total of 8.0, last year he scored a 7.9.
He’s 27-years-old, by all accounts he’s nothing short of a professional who conducts his business in an appropriate manner and will surely mentor the younger guys on the roster. Favors is set to become a UFA in the summer of 2020, so the future beyond this season is unknown.
Next. Who should start next season?. dark
However, the cost of his services didn’t come at a steep price. In return, the Pelicans sent two future second-round picks, but if he agrees to stay long-term when contract negotiations take place next June (will have his bird rights), he would be well worth the investment.