The New Orleans Pelicans will keep both General Manager Dell Demps and Head Coach Alvin Gentry on board for next season, reports Scott Kushner of the New Orleans Advocate:
The New Orleans Pelicans power structure will remain in place entering the 2017-18 season.
General manager Dell Demps and coach Alvin Gentry have both retained their posts, league sources informed The Advocate last week.
The Pelicans declined to comment on the matter.
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League sources indicated his February trade to acquire DeMarcus Cousins, pairing him alongside All-Star forward Anthony Davis, played a significant role in Demps retaining his position.
Sources said the importance was not only due to adding an elite center to a small-market team for the reasonable package of Buddy Hield, a protected draft pick and a pair of expiring contracts, but also because the Pelicans’ sought to provide a dose of stability around Cousins as he enters the final year of his contract.
Both Demps and Gentry are under contract through next season. During the 2016-17 season, there were multiple reports that Gentry’s job could be in jeopardy.
Gentry will represent the Pelicans at the Draft Lottery on Tuesday night.
