New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Toughest Decisions Before 2021-22
#5 The Derrick Favors Dilemma
We’ve admittedly been all over the place on the Derrick Favors decision, as we’ve advocated letting him walk and also re-signing him on a value deal.
The truth is that unless the Pelicans want to go DEEP into the tax, Favors will not be on the team next year unless he’ll play for the veteran’s minimum, which is highly unlikely.
Favors is still only 28-years-old and still has value to a lot of teams, so it is far more likely he’ll get an offer from someone that the Pelicans can’t match.
This isn’t a tough decision really, Favors has to walk. The more important question is how they are going to replace his rebounding, rim protection and toughness.
Related Story. 3 players who have played their final game with the Pelicans. light
Rookie Jaxson Hayes is the obvious candidate, but needs big improvement before he can hold down the “grown a** man” role that Favors currently holds.
Favors will be a free agent this offseason and is part of a group that have likely played their final game with the New Orleans Pelicans.
#4 The Redick Situation
J.J. Redick is another veteran who provides a lot of value for the New Orleans Pelicans, but will not be part of their long-term plans unless he wants to take a big pay cut.
Redick is due to make $13 million in 2020-21 in the final year of his contract.
Redick is still a valuable bench player who even at age 35 is one of the best shooters in the NBA.
The New Orleans Pelicans will not be able to re-sign Redick after next season unless he wants to play for the veterans’ minimum, much like Favors.
Redick is seven years older than Favors and may decide that playing on an exciting title contender is more important to him than getting the biggest contract, but that is far from a given.
It’s more likely the Pelicans won’t be able to afford the luxury of a $13 million bench player, so Redick will have to go.
The tough part of this decision is when to do it. Do the Pelicans trade Redick this offseason? If so, they will get more value as teams would potentially get a full year of his services in the deal.
If they wait until next trade deadline and try to move him to a contender, they won’t get as much and may decide that he has more value in their own playoff run than the meager haul they could get for him.
The New Orleans Pelicans need to do their due diligence to find out Redick’s long-term plans when it comes to his career. Would he take less to stay with the Pelicans? We’ll see.