The New Orleans Pelicans concluded certainly one of their worst seasons in effectively over a decade with a seventh consecutive loss on Sunday, and they’re making a big change as they start their rebuild.
The Pelicans introduced on Monday that they’ve fired govt vice chairman of basketball operations David Griffin. Staff proprietor Gayle Benson said in a statement that she made the “tough choice” to dismiss Griffin with a purpose to “convey a contemporary method to our entrance workplace and construct a tradition that may ship sustainable success, on and off the courtroom.”
Griffin had been in control of basketball operations with New Orleans for the final six seasons. He labored within the Cleveland Cavaliers’ entrance workplace for a number of years previous to that and helped put collectively the workforce that gained the 2016 NBA title.
The Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with the No. 1 general choose the identical yr they employed Griffin in 2019. That transfer didn’t pan out, largely due to Williamson’s lack of ability to stay wholesome and out there.
Griffin reportedly had some issues with former Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy and different members of the group who’ve come and gone throughout Griffin’s tenure.
The Pelicans completed 21-61 and missed the playoffs this season after going 49-33 a yr in the past. New Orleans was swept by the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the first spherical final season.
New Orleans solely made the playoffs in a single different season throughout Griffin’s time with the workforce, which was in 2022. They misplaced to the Phoenix Suns within the first spherical that yr.
