New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Free Agency Options to Scout at NBA Disney

New Orleans Pelicans Free Agent Options: Aron Baynes

Aron Baynes: Center, Phoenix Suns

With only 19-year-old Jaxson Hayes signed next year at center, the Pelicans are likely to turn to free agency to find a veteran to pair him with.

This could very well be their own free agent, Derrick Favors, who played well for the Pelicans and was a part of their most effective lineups.

If they do let Favors walk, they need to find someone who can protect the paint, play defense and if he could score a little, even better.

Baynes would be a perfect fit.

Baynes’ last contract was just 2yrs./$10.6 million and though he is 33-years-old, he is expected to get a raise. The Aussie has definitely played himself into a bigger contract after learning to shoot the 3-pointer, hitting 35.1 percent on four attempts per game.

Re-inventing himself as a stretch-five who can still protect the rim and grab rebounds may have priced Baynes out of the Pelicans’ range, but there will be a lot of factors.

Would Baynes take a little less money to be on an up and coming team where he would get big minutes, be a veteran leader and likely win?

Who knows.

The market for Baynes might be too crowded for the Pelicans, as they aren’t really in a position to get into a bidding war, but they can likely get Baynes for less money than Favors and he might be a better fit overall.

If Baynes has a couple of big games in Orlando, some team will probably open a bag of money for him, but if he and the Suns are quiet, it’s possible that New Orleans can swoop in and woo him in the offseason.

He’ll be another one to watch at NBA Disney.