New Orleans Pelicans center Derrick Favors will not play against his former team on Saturday night, as the big man did not make the trip to Salt Lake City to face the Utah Jazz, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic.

Favors has been great for his new team when healthy, but he's already missed six of the first 15 games of the season, recently due to back spasms. Rookie Jaxson Hayes has been manning the center spot in his absence and doing plenty well, blocking nine shots in the last four games while shooting 62.5% from the floor.

The Pelicans have won their last three games and four out of their last five, and they are in no rush to bring their free-agent acquisition back into the fold, with plenty of games left in the season.

At 6-9, the Pels are climbing back into the playoff conversation after many of their injured bodies are returning to the court. Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Jrue Holiday have returned from minor injuries in the past few games, helping this young team gain some steam.

Favors was likely awaiting his return to Salt Lake, where he played the bulk of the first nine seasons of his career (traded by the New Jersey Nets during his rookie season), but his visit will likely have to wait until he's healthier and able to play.

Favors is averaging 8.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on the season, already boasting a 20-point, 20-rebound game to his name.