The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly hired David Griffin as their Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Griffin last worked in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, helping to lead them to a championship in 2016.
David Griffin is finalizing a deal to become the next President of Basketball Operations with the New Orleans Pelicans, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
Wojnarowski says that Griffin will be given full control of basketball operations, including all additional front office staffing hires. Previously to working in Cleveland, the 46-year-old Griffin spent 17 years with the Phoenix Suns organization. Because of this, he also has a good relationship with Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry. Woj notes that Gentry is expected to remain the head coach despite the presumed roster changes.
The difficult part for David Griffin and company is the tricky situation of navigating perhaps the biggest question looming in the NBA: Anthony Davis. Earlier this season, Davis requested a trade from New Orleans but was never dealt. The Lakers made the strongest push to acquire him, but the Pelicans resisted. Now, Griffin will have to make perhaps the most important move the NBA has seen the past few seasons. Former Pelicans general manager Dell Demps, who played hard to get with the Lakers’ Magic Johnson, was able to avoid making a rash decision and send Davis to Los Angeles. Now Griffin will look to be on the offensive in getting a package back to New Orleans that not only feels like a fair deal but sets the franchise up for a brighter future. He made a series of trades with the Cavaliers that set them up for a championship, but this is a different circumstance.
The entire situation with Davis created a hostile environment, and Gentry says the request made the team “toxic”. When Demps was fired, Danny Ferry took the rains as the general manager and attempted to stabilize the organization. However, Ferry wished to no longer be part of the process anymore citing family reasons.
Danny Ferry has pulled out of the Pelicans GM process, he tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
Ferry (cont). "…I am happy to stay on to help them continue with the transition and to consult the next head of basketball operations if so desired…" https://t.co/ebssk6B5yF
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 12, 2019
As the draft lottery nears and more clarity is brought to the draft order, the Anthony Davis situation will only get more and more interesting. But with David Griffin at the helm, perhaps there will be more hope and stability that a fair trade can be made.
