The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of difficult questions after their worst season in more than a decade, and it'll be Louisiana native Joe Dumars tasked with finding the answers.
The team officially announced they'd hired Dumars as their new president of basketball operations roughly 48 hours after the firing of David Griffin after 67 years in that role. The Pelicans stumbled to 21-61 this past season, their worst record since rebranding to the Pelicans.
“Joe’s achievements as a renowned Hall of Fame player, NBA champion and front office executive are indisputable,” team owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “I have a great deal of respect for what Joe has already accomplished as a player and executive, but more importantly I admire his character and leadership. His vast experience and relationships throughout the NBA, along with his strong leadership qualities, will have a tremendous impact on our organization and our goal of winning an NBA championship.
"While at the league, he was involved in every aspect of basketball operations and got unparalleled perspective and knowledge of the most effective personnel, strategy and tactics throughout the league. That will benefit our team immediately as we move forward. I am delighted to welcome Joe, his wife Debbie, and their children Jordan and Aren to the Pelicans.”
Benson's statement continues: “As we went through this past season, I gave it a lot of careful thought and reflection relative to how we need to move this organization forward and what kind of leadership that will take. Joe was someone I was very familiar with, having dealt with him over the past few years at league meetings. My decision today was not hastily made, and not without spending valuable time talking to players, coaches and league officials. That input was critical. I am excited to get started in providing any and all of the resources, as I have done in the past to the team, to get us back to winning.”
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Dumars, 61, is a native of Shreveport and starred at Natchitoches Central and McNeese State before a 14-year NBA career with the Pistons as a combo guard. Dumars' teams won two NBA titles (1989 and 1990) and he was a six-time All Star. Dumars went on to be Detroit's president of basketball ops for 14 years starting in 2000. He was named Executive of the Year in 2003 and presided over a Pistons title run the following year.
“I want to thank Mrs. Benson for giving me the honor and privilege to lead the Pelicans basketball operations group,” Dumars said in a statement via the Pelicans. “As a Louisiana native, this is truly a full circle moment. I grew up as a Saints fan and the first AAU basketball team I played on at 16 years old was based in New Orleans, so this opportunity is very special to me on a personal level. I look forward to being a part of the Pelicans organization, and building a team that proudly represents our fans on the court and in our community.”
The Pelicans have the fourth best lottery odds to land the No. 1 overall pick. As of Wednesday there have been no additional firings, with GM Bryson Graham, head coach Willie Green and the rest of the staff remaining in place. Dumars, or whomever else lands the job, is expected to make a decision on whether to retain Green, who led the Pelicans to increased win totals in each of his first three seasons before an injury plagued Year 4. He'll also have to make decisions on whether to retain key players, most notably Zion Williamson, who has appeared in 30 or fewer games in three of his give NBA seasons.
Griffin's firing continues a season of tumult across New Orleans' two major teams, with the Saints opting to fire head coach Dennis Allen midway through the 2024 season, but keeping GM Mickey Loomis in place as they hired Kellen Moore to take over.