The New Orleans Pelicans have fired executive vice president David Griffin after six seasons leading the team’s basketball operations. Under Griffin’s leadership, the Pelicans compiled a 209-263 record and made only two postseason appearances. His tenure included major moves such as trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers in 2019 and selecting Zion Williamson as the No. 1 overall pick that same year.
This season, the Pelicans struggled heavily with injuries, finishing 21-61 — the fourth-worst record in the NBA. Key players including Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, Trey Murphy III, Herbert Jones, Jose Alvarado, and CJ McCollum all missed significant time, with several shut down for the year.
Hall of Famer Joe Dumars has emerged as a serious candidate to replace Griffin, according to ESPN. Dumars, a Louisiana native and former Pistons executive who won the 2004 NBA title and was named Executive of the Year in 2003, currently serves as the NBA’s executive VP of basketball operations. Sources say the Pelicans and Dumars are expected to begin talks this week with hopes of finalizing a deal soon.
