1:22pm: The Pelicans have issued a press release officially confirming that they’ve extended Gentry’s contract through the 2020/21 season.
“We are thrilled to have Alvin as our head coach,” Demps said in a statement. “He did a tremendous job last season. When we faced adversity, Alvin and his staff continually discovered ways to place the team in situations where we could be successful. I want to thank Mrs. [Gayle] Benson for her endless support and look forward to working with Alvin and his coaching staff as we strive to have sustained success.”
7:44am: The Pelicans have reached an agreement with Alvin Gentry that will keep the head coach locked up for multiple years, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to Wojnarowski, the two sides agreed to terms on a two-year extension, which will keep him under contract through the 2020/21 season.
Wojnarowski reports that Gentry will receive a raise on his new deal and will get a guaranteed contract for the 2019/20 campaign. His 2020/21 deal will be performance-based, Woj adds.
Gentry, a veteran head coach who took the reins in New Orleans in 2015, only won 64 games in his first two seasons with the club. However, the Pelicans took a major step forward in 2017/18, posting a 48-34 mark and knocking off the higher-seeded Trail Blazers in a first-round playoff sweep.
While Gentry’s overall record with the Pelicans remains a modest 112-134 (.455), his job looks far safer for the foreseeable future than it did a year ago, when there was speculation that the team could replace Gentry and/or GM Dell Demps. The Pelicans rewarded the organization’s patience with its best performance since the Chris Paul era.
The Pelicans’ strong season ensured that the franchise exercised its fourth-year option on Gentry for the 2018/19 season back in April. However, the new agreement will give him even more security, locking him up for the next three seasons.
New Orleans will look to take another step forward next season, but faces some roster-building challenges this offseason, with DeMarcus Cousins headed for free agency and no cap room available. Fortunately, franchise cornerstones Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday remain under team control for multiple years.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Can’t wait to see what happens with Boogie, first if he can recover to anything like what he was before the injury, if not will be such a shame for the league,he was one of the very best centers that I have ever seen an absolute beast, a true superstar. Second if NOLA can convince him to stay & how does it affect the roster, specially if Rondo can comeback too & finally if he goes, where? I do like the idea of him going to Lakers or Dallas the most, though I think Washington could make sense too & if Lebron stays in Cleveland maybe there… most of all I just hope he can be the player he was, a true MVP caliber player, one of my favorite to watch, there is nothing he couldn’t do, a true point-center.
There’s no way New Orleans is gonna max Boogie, especially when they looked so good with Mirotic at the 4. I think the move is to get a good wing player at the 3. I’d call up Toronto and see about DeRozan or maybe the Wizards want some cap relief.
The Lakers would also give you Luol Deng lol
NOLA may not have a choice but to offer a max contract to Cousins in order to retain Davis.