The New Orleans Pelicans are searching for their next top executive, and a big name is atop the list of potential candidates.
NBA Hall of Famer and Louisiana native Joe Dumars is believed to be a frontrunner for the position, according to a report from Shams Charania of ESPN.
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. Dumars stepped down from that role after the 2014 season, returning to the NBA as an advisor for the Kings for three seasons, before spending the past two as the executive VP and head of basketball operations for the league.
The Pelicans opted to fire their current EVP David Griffin on Monday after the conclusion of its worst season since rebranding from the Hornets. Griffin had been in that role since 2019. The Pelicans (21-61) have the fourth best lottery odds to land the No. 1 overall pick.
As of Monday 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.
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.
