The New Orleans Pelicans have announced the dismissal of General Manager David Griffin on Monday. Griffin, who previously built a championship team with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, joined the Pelicans before the 2019-20 season. However, his tenure in New Orleans was plagued by injuries and frequent coaching changes, ultimately leading to his departure. This decision comes after the Pelicans concluded the 2024-25 season with a 21-61 record, the fourth-worst in the NBA.
While the Pelicans` official statement confirmed Griffin`s removal, it did not mention the status of coach Willie Green. Despite speculation about his job security following the poor season, Green appears to be safe for the time being.
According to reports from ESPN, Joe Dumars is a leading candidate to succeed Griffin as general manager. Dumars, a Louisiana native and former NBA Executive of the Year (2003), is expected to finalize an agreement with the Pelicans by the end of the week. Currently working for the NBA league office, Dumars previously played a key role in building the Detroit Pistons` 2004 championship team and served as Detroit`s front office head from 2000 to 2014.
Pelicans owner Gayle Benson stated that after careful consideration, she decided to remove David Griffin from his position as executive vice president of basketball operations. She described it as a necessary but difficult decision to bring a fresh perspective to the front office and cultivate a winning culture both on and off the court. Benson emphasized her commitment to hiring the right leader for basketball operations and delivering an NBA Championship to New Orleans, expressing gratitude for Griffin`s contributions over the past six years and wishing him and his family well.
Griffin was highly regarded in basketball circles when he became available in 2018 after extension talks with Cleveland broke down. He joined the Pelicans the following year and immediately secured the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft lottery, allowing them to draft Zion Williamson. While Williamson has shown his talent, his availability has been a significant issue, having played in only 214 regular-season games over six years with the Pelicans, including just 30 in the 2024-25 season. Williamson`s future with the team remains uncertain despite having three years left on his contract.
Injuries have been a recurring problem for New Orleans beyond Williamson. Brandon Ingram, a key player acquired in the Anthony Davis trade, has also struggled with injuries. The Pelicans traded Ingram for a less favorable return before this year`s deadline to avoid losing him without compensation in free agency. Dejounte Murray, a significant addition this year, suffered an Achilles tear mid-season.
During his time in New Orleans, Griffin also went through several coaching changes. He initially inherited Alvin Gentry, then replaced him with Stan Van Gundy after one season, only to fire Van Gundy after another year. Willie Green has been the head coach since then, but the Pelicans have yet to win a playoff series under his leadership.
Despite drafting well and acquiring talented players like Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Jose Alvarado, and Yves Missi, Griffin struggled to create a cohesive team, particularly one that could consistently perform without Williamson. His tenure, once promising, ultimately fell short of expectations for sustained success.
Jasper Hawthorne