New Orleans Pelicans Make Coaching Change Amidst Deep-Seated Organizational Challenges

New Orleans, LA – The New Orleans Pelicans have parted ways with head coach Willie Green, a decision that comes as the team grapples with a dismal 2-10 start to the current season. While the change signals an immediate shift in leadership, with associate head coach James Borrego stepping in as interim, the move has cast a spotlight on a range of systemic issues that have plagued the franchise, suggesting that a coaching change alone may not be sufficient to resolve the team’s long-standing struggles.

Green’s dismissal on [Date of Firing, e.g., November 12, 2024, or whatever date aligns with the 2-10 start] followed a period of severe underperformance, placing the Pelicans at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The team’s current trajectory stands in stark contrast to a promising stretch during Green’s tenure that showcased the team’s potential. Between November 5, 2023, and March 20, 2024, the Pelicans recorded an impressive 38-24 record, achieving the NBA’s third-best net rating in that window, trailing only the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder. This period, which coincided with C.J. McCollum’s return from injury, was widely considered the most sustained stretch of health and competitive play the franchise had experienced since the departure of Anthony Davis.

However, this promising run was abruptly derailed by a series of critical injuries. Forward Brandon Ingram sustained an injury in March, followed by Zion Williamson in April, effectively dismantling the team’s core and leading to a significant downturn in performance. The team’s subsequent struggle to maintain cohesion and competitiveness ultimately led to Green’s exit. His overall record as head coach was 133-129 across three seasons. The decision to make a coaching change, while understandable given the team’s current record and perceived lack of fight, is viewed by many as addressing a symptom rather than the root cause of the Pelicans’ persistent dysfunction.

The Deeper Malady: Roster Construction and Asset Management

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Beyond the immediate on-court performance, significant questions have been raised regarding the Pelicans’ long-term roster strategy and asset management. Critiques intensified following the acquisition of Dejounte Murray in January. The Pelicans notably sent three unprotected first-round picks (originally from the Los Angeles Lakers) to the Atlanta Hawks for Murray, a move that significantly depleted their future draft capital. This expenditure, combined with the team’s ongoing struggles with player availability and the development of young talent such as Dyson Daniels, has led to scrutiny regarding the overall return on investment for the franchise’s assets. The team also previously utilized significant draft capital from the Anthony Davis trade to acquire and build around Brandon Ingram, further underscoring a history of aggressive asset deployment that has not consistently translated into sustained success. The absence of their first-round pick in the upcoming draft further complicates their path to rebuilding.

A consistent theme in the Pelicans’ history has been the pervasive issue of player health. Zion Williamson, the franchise’s cornerstone and a former No. 1 overall pick, has battled a litany of injuries throughout his career. His electric play, particularly evident before his injury in the Play-In game against the Los Angeles Lakers, has often been followed by extended absences and a noticeable dip in efficiency upon his return. His field goal percentage at the rim, a hallmark of his dominant style, has shown a concerning decline since his last significant injury. Similarly, Brandon Ingram, another key offensive talent, has also missed considerable time due to various ailments. The recurring nature of these injuries has prompted observers to question the organization’s player health management protocols, training staff, and overall infrastructure dedicated to player welfare and performance.

Organizational Structure and Leadership Under Scrutiny

The challenges facing the Pelicans extend beyond the roster and coaching staff, reaching into the very foundation of the organization’s ownership and management philosophy. The franchise is owned by Gayle Benson, who also owns the NFL’s New Orleans Saints. This dual ownership has frequently led to concerns about organizational crossover and resource allocation. Historically, the Saints’ general manager, Mickey Loomis, notably served as the head of basketball operations for the Pelicans between 2012 and 2019, despite having no prior experience in basketball management. While his direct oversight ostensibly ended with the hiring of David Griffin, a degree of overlap and perceived influence from the Saints organization has continued to be a point of contention.

A persistent reluctance to invest heavily in the team’s basketball infrastructure and player payroll has also been a recurring criticism. The Pelicans have never paid the NBA’s luxury tax, a threshold that often signals a team’s commitment to maximizing its roster talent through significant financial outlay. This fiscal conservatism, coupled with questions about the depth of their analytics department, sports science capabilities, and overall support staff, has been cited as a potential impediment to sustained competitiveness in a league where such investments are increasingly critical.

The process surrounding the replacement of former Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin further highlighted these concerns. After Griffin’s firing was made official on April 14, the team announced the hiring of Joe Dumars just three days later, on April 17. This rapid succession, reportedly without a formal interview process for other candidates, raised eyebrows across the league. Dumars, a Hall of Fame player and former general manager of the Detroit Pistons, had not run an NBA team in over a decade and was more than two decades removed from his 2004 championship. His hiring was widely perceived as an instance of cronyism, given his long-standing relationship with ownership, with rumors of his involvement with the organization dating back to the Anthony Davis era. This perceived lack of a comprehensive search process for a critical leadership role has been interpreted as a symptom of an organization prioritizing familiarity over a thorough evaluation of diverse candidates and contemporary best practices.

Player Feedback and Unaddressed Issues

The internal climate of the Pelicans organization also came under public scrutiny following remarks made by Dejounte Murray on The Pivot Podcast. Murray candidly discussed his challenging first-year experience with the Pelicans, citing personal struggles including a hand injury, his mother’s stroke, a cousin’s death, and an uncle’s overdose. During this period, Murray stated, he felt a lack of necessary support from the organization, struggling to access training time, weightlifting facilities, and individual court time. He expressed how these logistical and personal challenges significantly impacted his mental well-being.

"It was a situation where, like, I got all these problems going on… I broke my hand, I’m recovering," Murray said. "My mom had a stroke, one of my cousins got killed, then my uncle overdosed… [During all this] I’m not getting what I need in the organization. It’s hard for me to get my training time. It’s hard for me to get lifts. It’s hard for me to get my own court time. So, you can only imagine where my mental was at."

These remarks from an active player, who continues to be a part of the team, are rare and shed light on potential systemic shortcomings in player support and infrastructure. While Joe Dumars publicly addressed the interview, stating "it won’t be a problem this year," the incident underscored concerns about the organization’s ability to foster a supportive and high-performance environment for its athletes.

The Road Ahead: Beyond the Coaching Change

The appointment of James Borrego as interim head coach offers a temporary solution to the team’s immediate leadership void. Borrego brings prior head coaching experience from his tenure with the Charlotte Hornets and is known for his offensive schemes. However, the historical trajectory of other franchises suggests that coaching changes, while sometimes necessary, do not inherently rectify deeper organizational issues. The Sacramento Kings, for instance, experienced a dramatic turnaround under Mike Brown, who won Coach of the Year unanimously, only to see the team regress significantly a year and a half later, returning to many of their previous struggles. Similarly, the Phoenix Suns under owner Mat Ishbia have demonstrated a propensity for frequent coaching changes, yet consistent organizational stability has remained elusive.

For the New Orleans Pelicans, the firing of Willie Green marks a pivotal moment, but it is widely considered insufficient to address the multitude of challenges facing the franchise. Unless there is a fundamental shift in ownership philosophy, a renewed commitment to infrastructure investment, and a more robust, transparent approach to management and player support, the cycle of underperformance and organizational instability may continue, regardless of who occupies the head coach’s chair. The focus now shifts to whether the Pelicans’ leadership will recognize and address these profound, systemic issues that extend far beyond the sidelines.