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Struggling Pelicans Hire Joe Dumars After Firing David Griffin

PORTLAND, OREGON - MARCH 16: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket on Steven Adams #12 of the New Orleans Pelicans as Zion Williamson #1 looks on during the second half at Moda Center on March 16, 2021 in Portland, Oregon. Blazers won 125-124. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

After the New Orleans Pelicans fired executive vice president David Griffin on Monday, they hired Joe Dumars to fill the position.

Griffin had been the executive vice president since 2019. Before that, Griffin had stints in similar roles with both the Phoenix Suns and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Griffin had been involved in numerous trades with the Pelicans, most notably when the team traded star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.

Dumars was the 2003 executive of the year as a member of the Detroit Pistons, where he won a championship a year later.

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Dumars is currently the NBA’s executive vice president and the head of basketball operations. A deal between Dumars and the Pelicans is expected to be finalized by the end of the week.

The Pelicans finished this season at 21-61, the team’s worst mark since the 2004-2005 season, when the team, which was still the Hornets, finished 18-64. The team has been ravaged by injuries all season.

The team lost Zion Williamson, Dejounte Murray and Brandon Ingram, among other essential players for either long periods of time, or season ending injuries at some point during the year.

The Pelicans hope to return to their winning ways under new leadership. The team finished with 49 wins last season, making the playoffs in two of their previous three seasons.