Making his first public appearance today as the Pelicans‘ new executive vice president of basketball operations, David Griffin offered an interesting take on the Anthony Davis situation.
As Will Guillory of The Athletic relays (via Twitter), Griffin said that after meeting with agent Rich Paul, he believes that Davis could be open to staying in New Orleans. Griffin has yet to speak to Davis directly, but plans to do so in the hopes of establishing whether AD is all-in or all-out on the Pelicans (Twitter link). He’s committed to convincing the 26-year-old that it’s possible to win in New Orleans (Twitter link).
It still seems like a long shot that Davis will be a Pelican to start the 2019/20 season, but Griffin made it clear today that he won’t let the All-NBA big man go without a fight, tweets Scott Kushner of The Advocate. As Kushner notes (via Twitter), New Orleans’ new head of basketball operations doesn’t think the Davis well is poisoned, and believes Paul is excited to work together.
Here’s more from Griffin’s introductory presser:
- According to Griffin, he made some “outrageous” demands during his meeting with the Pelicans, and the team was on board, giving him confidence that owner Gayle Benson is 100% committed to the franchise’s success (Twitter link via Kushner). Griffin provided some clues at the changes he wants to make, mentioning his desire to invest in areas such as analytics, player performance, and the medical department (Twitter link via Kushner).
- Griffin is excited about several of the players currently under contract with the Pelicans, singling out Jrue Holiday as someone who represents everything the Pelicans want to be (Twitter link via Guillory). The former Cavaliers GM said he “absolutely” feels as if Holiday is a foundational piece for the club (Twitter link via Kushner).
- Responding to the idea of New Orleans as a small-market team, Griffin said that it would mean more to win in a “small” market, adding that it’s “bulls–t” to say winning in New Orleans isn’t possible (Twitter link via Guillory).
- Pelicans president Dennis Lauscha said the Pelicans looked at more than 100 candidates for the job before hiring Griffin (Twitter link via Kushner). Obviously, the club narrowed that list down to a much smaller group before beginning interviews. Griffin, who has been a candidate for other front office openings, said it took him about a half-hour in the interview room for him to realize that the Pelicans’ job was the one he really wanted (Twitter link via Kushner).
Well… if they do NOT trade Davis, then… they are what they are.
I read celebration of Holiday, but no handle on Randle.
If Davis is kept…
Trade Randle and his rising PER for assets because there aren’t many at present. Jahlil Okafor is also rising and starting him instead allows Davis to play the 4 & have more impact, and fun, making a re-signing more likely. Moore and Payton are good backups. A lot of spots left.
I wouldn’t mind for AD to stay in NOLA… but I am afraid that the former regime of the Pels with their utterly despicable behavior towards AD, will make it impossible for him to stay, the way they treated him, how they stopped him from playing, making him look bad for wanting out, instead of blaming themselves blaming him… I think is too much water under the bridge or they burn their bridges, either way they messed up & will have to live knowing that they didn’t let him choose to stay in NOLA for their own arrogance. RIP Pels.
Just say no to drugs, kids.
If anyone can convince AD that he can win in a smaller market, it’s Griffin.