Pelica Debrief
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New Orleans Pelicans: Derrick Favors’ veteran presence should sturdy youth

By Willie Lutz

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz works against Jeff Withey #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 9, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: Derrick Favors #15 of the Utah Jazz works against Jeff Withey #5 of the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 9, 2015 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Traded to New Orleans in a turbulent NBA offseason, sturdy power forward Derrick Favors has the resume to suggest a key role on this young roster.

On a roster full of newness, the New Orleans Pelicans’ front office saw the wisdom in adding veteran depth to a roster lacking experience. While JJ Redick makes more headlines, power forward Derrick Favors is due to provide a sturdy rotational big in the Big Easy.

Heading into his tenth year of NBA basketball, playing all but 56 of his 632 career games as a member of the Utah Jazz (picked third overall by the New Jersey Nets in 2010), Favors now finds himself a role player on an exciting young team. While he played with great talents like Rudy Gobert, Gordon Hayward, and Donovan Mitchell throughout his career, he’s now on one of the most talent-stacked rosters in the league.

Favors is getting older; he turned 28-years-old in the summer and has lost a step, despite still being a pretty productive player. He averaged 11.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game last season, posting a solid 60% effective field goal rate.

While he scored pretty efficiently, it’s important to note 74.6% of his shots came from within ten feet and he only got to the line 3 times per game. When he’s on the floor this season, he’s going to be filling the starting center or slide to forward in relief of Zion Williamson.

For the other young Pelicans, Favors can become something of a stabilizing source on both ends on the floor. There may be games this season where the team may start four players under 25-years-old, so a ten-year man like Favors should be a welcome addition.

In all likelihood, Alvin Gentry will use Favors as a starting center alongside Zion, which will make Favors the team’s primary rebounder next season. Having the veteran presence next to Williamson gives him someone established to look to for guidance and on-court education.

Never known for his three-point stroke (a career 21% deep shooter on 167 total looks), the Pelicans won’t be able to rely on him to correct their star rookie’s lackluster jump shot. Instead, Favors can help teach Zion to sturdy the interior.

Playing in the league’s second-best defensive system last year under Quin Snyder, the Pelicans should remain optimistic Favors can help correct their 22nd-ranked defense from a year ago. Checking in for 23.2 minutes per contest last season, Favors posted an impressive 103 defensive rating, which would’ve been the best clip for a Pelican last season. Favors is currently slated to see a noteworthy uptick in his playing time, considering he’ll be looked to as a sturdy veteran among this young team.

In similar conditions and Favors should also be a favorable asset alongside rookie center Jaxson Hayes. Favors was the second-best rebounder alongside the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert, and it would, of course, benefit Hayes to see if he can pick up any tricks from the elite center’s book. Either way, Favors was impressive at boxing out in his time with Utah, so Hayes should benefit from the rebounds created by the more-established big.

Something that should benefit both New Orleans and Favors is his expiring contract heading into the campaign. Due $16 million this season, Favors will become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2020 and will likely spend this year proving his worth for the last big contract of his career.

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