Derrick Favors Shows Savvy During New Orleans Pelicans Introductions
According to David Griffin, Derrick Favors had a chance to go to any team. Favors choose the New Orleans Pelicans and Jrue Holiday.
Jrue Holiday was the only truly established veteran presence on the New Orleans Pelicans roster when David Griffin was hired. Facing a season with six roster spots being taken up by players on rookie contracts, Griffin traded for Derrick Favors.
The potential All-Star center showed his veteran media savvy at the Pelicans introductory press conference. Alvin Gentry hopes he can be the same calm but forceful presence on the court. Favors is a great role model for young NBA players. He experienced a true grind to earn his starting spot.
David Griffin, going back to his time in Cleveland, he had an affinity for Favors. Griffin believes moving Favors to his actual position at the five should allow Favors to feature his full skill set. Griffin called him an ‘elite rim protector’ and expressed the belief he can be elite on offense as well.
Griffin feels ”a lot of Derrick’s game was left untouched, particularly offensively. He’s a special defensive player: he’s an elite rim protector, and we think he can do the same things offensively.”
More from Pelican Debrief
- How will the Pelicans round out rotation without Trey Murphy III
- Why you can’t blame Brandon Ingram for all Team USA’s failures
- Ranking 10 worst starters of the Anthony Davis era
- New Orleans Pelicans avoid potential disaster with latest injury reports
- 4 Most underrated players on New Orleans Pelicans current roster
Joining the Pelicans family is a great new opportunity for Favors. Griffin said he “couldn’t be happier to have these four men as part of the Pelicans family.” Favors already considers Jrue Holiday extended family. Favor said he has “known Jrue since high school” and their AAU days.
Favors wants to bring the mindset of working for the team, which will make the game more fun for everyone. Individual stats are not a priority for anyone Favors calls a true teammate.
However, Derrick Favors knows he is capable of being more than just part of the supporting cast. He is now one of the New Orleans Pelicans’ most experienced leaders and comes from another small market playoff contender. Favors shared about his time in Utah, saying:
"”I think out there we were just a tight-knit group. Everybody worked hard, everybody respected everybody, and I hope I can bring that same mindset here. Sometimes you might have to sacrifice minutes or opportunities for the benefit of the team and I think that when everyone buys into that, that’s how you come together and get tighter as a group and start winning more games. I’m hoping I can bring that mindset down here.”"
Derrick Favors was a secondary consideration in Utah, playing behind Rudy Gobert. “I wasn’t able to do the things I can do on a daily basis,” Favors said. Griffin reached out, expressing faith in Favors game still having room to grow. Favors showed faith in what the New Orleans Pelicans were building.
"”Like he [Griff] said, I was playing behind one of the best defensive players in the league and I wasn’t able to show a lot of what I’m able to do, and when Griff told me that I had untapped offensive potential, I was excited to be a part of that. […] I just thought it was a great fit for me.”"
Derrick Favors thinks he can adapt to the quicker pace of play in New Orleans. He has an opportunity to establish himself as an elite NBA frontcourt option. Griffin credits his roster with “being deep with selfless guys” wanted to tune into a championship frequency.
Next. Pelicans Most Anticipated Lineups and Rotations. dark
With Favors added to the roster, there is “no reason we should limit what we dream of, there is no reason we cannot achieve what we want to achieve” according to Griffin.