New Orleans Pelicans: 3 remaining free agents to pursue
By Eliot Clough
2. Tyson Chandler
With Jaxson Hayes and Derrick Favors on the roster, New Orleans doesn’t need another center to take up a chunk of the minutes in the 2019-20 season. But having a veteran who has won a championship and played with a multitude of teams mentoring a young piece in Hayes surely wouldn’t hurt.
Coming off a season in which he spent some time with the Phoenix Suns and played a key role with the Lakers, Chandler took a clear step back in minutes, averaging just 15.9 per game in his 55 contests last year.
With the diminished role and the clear fact that his NBA career is coming to an end, the center would be a perfect addition to a roster that only has two other players 30 or older (J.J. Redick at 35 and E’Twaun Moore at 30). Not only would this provide another clear leader for the locker room, but an older presence to aid in Redick’s happiness with the franchise.
As Hayes begins to develop and learn to fill his role in New Orleans, the hopeful soon-to-be stretch-5 could easily benefit from the guidance of a journeyman like Chandler. Having played with stars like Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dirk Nowitzki, the guy knows what it’s like to be surrounded by egos. He knows what it’s like to travel. He knows what it takes to win.
While Favors will be the guy at the center position in the near future for the Pelicans, molding their 10th overall draft pick with a vet like Chandler would be nothing short of smart for New Orleans.