Should the New Orleans Pelicans let Derrick Favors Walk?

If the New Orleans Pelicans Bring Favors Back

There are some benefits to re-signing Favors to another contract. Favors is in his 12th season, but is still just 28 and has plenty of more gas left in the tank.

The New Orleans Pelicans currently rank 21st in the NBA in team defense, a number that is almost sure to get worse if they lose Favors and don’t replace him with another rim protector.

Favors is one of the only adults on the interior for the Pelicans and has no problem matching up with opposing power forwards or centers.

Williamson is not a great defender at this point in his career and is too busy ripping off rims to focus much on defense.

Re-signing Favors would allow Zion to continue to guard the worst front court player on the other team, freeing him up to focus on his offensive game.

Favors is also getting 9.2 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the New Orleans Pelicans, numbers that might be difficult to replace in free agency or via trade.

It is not easy to find professionals like Favors. He doesn’t care if he ever gets the ball, he does anything the team asks (even guarding Luka Doncic) and leads by example. He is the prototypical veteran presence the young Pelicans lack, especially without the services of J.J. Redick.

Favors is unlikely to get another big contract, so the Pelicans could likely retain his services and still make a move via trade or free agency.

Favors is the type of under-the-radar player that doesn’t draw headlines, but that every successful team needs.

However, there might be some advantages to moving on from Favors this offseason.