The Pelicans weren’t able to achieve their goal of making the playoffs this season, but GM Dell Demps believes the team is on the right path to reach that pinnacle.
“We have positioned ourselves well for the future,” Demps said (via Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune). “We believe the future is bright. … One of our goals this season was to improve on defense and we did that (from 28th to 8th in defensive efficiency). And there was a time after the All-Star break where our offense started to gel and play better, and we were still playing good defense. So that gives us hope that this team is headed in the right direction.”
Here’s more from New Orleans:
- The Pelicans want to bring Jrue Holiday back, but understand that the point guard has to weigh his options, as Justin Verrier of ESPN.com relays (Twitter link). “We love Jrue. We love his family. Obviously, we’d like to have him back. He’s got a tough decision to make. We’re going to let that process play out,” Demps said.
- Demps described the status of the team’s coaching staff as in “evaluation mode,” but added that he likes the direction in which the team is heading, Verrier passes along via Twitter.
- Coach Alvin Gentry hasn’t spoken to ownership about his future in New Orleans yet, Scott Kushner of The Advocate relays (Twitter links). In reference to successfully incorporating DeMarcus Cousins, Gentry said that he “doesn’t think [the team is] going to have to change that much.”
- Demps believes the Pelicans are set up well for the future and a major reason why is the Cousins trade, Kushner adds (Twitter links). New Orleans had a record of 7-10 after making the deal, but Demps blames the lack of success on the big man’s health, explaining that the center played with a sore Achilles post All-Star break.
coming from a lakers fan, you have to fire Alvin asap to make it work
Gentry must be let go, demos must be canned, let injured holiday go, trade hill and asik, bring in hardaway jr and Robert convington. Also bring back Terrance Jones. Draft a passing pg in second or third Rd.
Sounds like Dell Demps has everything EVERYTHING under control. If U ask him why it’s raining he’s got an explanation for that, ask him why Pluto was the last known planet almost all its existence he’s got an explanation for that, ask him where the ripples in the lakes go after they start and yes he has an explanation for that. It’s just he’s the only one explaining these things while the Pelicans end results are still the same. Answer me this though GM Dell Demps, what in your right mind told you to give away 2No.1 picks this time to Sacramento. You could be set if you just gave away a No.1 pick from this year’s draft. We’d still have SG Buddy Hield who WILL only get better and be killing the Pelicans for years to come even after AD leaves because of stupid moves like this one, and the Kings would still have a No.1 pick from us plus 2SG’S, Galloway and Evans. AD might’ve not seen it but he and Hield and Cousins plus Holiday were a playoff team. But your the GM your suppose to see it. There in lies the problem, you can’t even see what so many others can see. The Kings have been after Hield while you just drafted him thinking he was a bargaining chip down the road and not an actual part of a Championship building block foundation. Your days of lack of knowledge as an NBA GM are swiftly coming to an end. And if your making bad decisions to keep this franchise mediocre for the sake of Tom Benson, like he’s been doing for years with the Saints, to keep selling tickets and day dreams to fans then your about to be his scapegoat. Your gonna be fired soon and then he’ll just get someone else to feed off the hopes and aspirations of the Pelican fans.