There were signs that Stan Van Gundy might not return for another season as Pelicans head coach well before the news became official Wednesday, according to Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and William Guillory of The Athletic. Earlier today, we shared their insights into Zion Williamson‘s future in New Orleans, and they have information on the coaching situation as well.
Van Gundy expressed his frustrations about the team’s performance to an assistant coach during a late-season bus trip, and someone relayed those comments to executive VP of basketball operations David Griffin with a warning that Van Gundy may not want to go through another season. Additionally, a meeting between Van Gundy and Griffin prior to the last weekend of the season turned out poorly, according to sources.
Sources also tell the authors that Brandon Ingram, who earned an All-Star nod under previous coach Alvin Gentry, didn’t like Van Gundy’s coaching methods. Ingram frequently talked about the way he and Williamson were used when they were on the court together, saying they rarely created better shot opportunities for each other.
There’s more from New Orleans:
- The Pelicans will face important decisions this summer on two players who were at the heart of the Anthony Davis trade, Charania, Vardon and Guillory add in the same story. Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart will both be restricted free agents and will be seeking substantial raises. Hart has become a vocal leader on a team without a strong veteran presence, and Williamson and Ingram have spoken out in favor of bringing both players back.
- The puzzling decisions to trade for Steven Adams and then give him a two-year extension look worse than ever, according to John Hollinger of The Athletic. New Orleans gave up a first-round pick in the deal for the veteran center, who clogs the lane and takes away room for Williamson to operate. Hollinger also questions the choice to take Eric Bledsoe‘s sizable contract from the Bucks instead of George Hill in the Jrue Holiday trade.
- The latest coaching change comes at a crucial time for the franchise, Hollinger adds. The Pelicans’ lease in New Orleans expires in 2024, so there’s a need to put a competitive team on the floor as soon as possible to ease any fears of relocation. He adds that owner Gayle Benson is very connected to the city and isn’t currently looking to sell, but the team continues to lose money while missing the playoffs.
The pelicans are sooooo poorly run. Williamson will just be traded like Davis. The nba needs to fold up like 6-8 teams. Some teams are just minor league teams for bigger teams
Van Gundy was a poor hire in the first place. They would’ve been better off hiring a guy like Billups or a player’s friendly coach.
Griffin’s moves the past year were bizarre, but Hollinger, as usual, is playing fast and loose with the facts to make his points. Perhaps it’s the only way he can make them.
Bucks included BOTH Hill and Bledsoe in the deal for Holiday. The fact they later redirected Hill to OKC in the Adams deal doesn’t change the deal from the Bucks standpoint, and nobody should assume the Pels had an option to keep Hill vs Bledsoe when dealing with OKC.
He made this point earlier in the year as well. I’m guessing his assumption is that OKC would’ve happily taken Bledsoe instead of Hill if the Pelicans were willing to throw another asset or two their way, which maybe NO should’ve done. But yeah, to present it as if they had a choice between Bledsoe and Hill and chose Bledsoe is a little disingenuous.
Kemba for Bledsoe and Adams
So, basically, someone might put up a statue of David Griffin in downtown Seattle in say, 2025? “The man that brought back the Sonics.”
I have to question all these reports coming from New Orleans front office, blaming SVG. They’re the ones that brought in Steven Adams, and had several bigs on their roster, taking time away from Hayes (which they blamed on SVG), and giving them spacing issues. They also traded Jrue Holiday for Eric Bledsoe, thinking he would give them a lesser version of what they had. I also question the idea that SVG was the one against getting Zion more possessions with the ball. SVG was the main one that started talking about getting Zion more opportunities above the break with the ball in his hands. The other issue is their defensive issues on the wing, which doesnt really help with playing guys like NAW, or Kira Lewis, who struggle on that end. I also feel like Lewis was overhyped. Had him a lot lower heading into the draft. I see him as a remedial Mario Chalmers, with more speed and less consistency with the jump shot…
They need to keep Josh Hart, more than anyone, but also, having Ball and Bledsoe play together in the same lineup as Zion and Adams kills their spacing. They might want to look at a floor spacing big to potentially pair with Zion, and some help defensively at the guard spot/on the wing
It’s obvious Zion and Ingram cannot coexist as both need the ball to maximize their skills set. I pick Zion. Griffin should be gone yesterday for franchise to move forward.
Pelicans trade Ingram for RJ Barrett, Kelly Oubre (sign and trade) and a first round pick to the Knicks.
Pelicans flip Steven Adams and NAW for Al Horford, Darius Bazley and a second round pick.
1. Ball. Bledsloe. Lewis
2. Barrett. Hart
3. Oubre. Iwundu.
4. Zion. Bazley
5. Horford. Hayes. Hernagomez
Zion would go a lot better having Adams not there clogging the paint and instead Horford who offers a little more range and experience. You also please him by getting RJ his teammate from Duke and keeping Lonzo.
Knicks would be building around Ingram and Randle with Robinson and Quickly which would be great for them.
OKC paid Shai with his cousin NAW who really shows out at summer league but often doesn’t get NBA minutes. They form a solid duo and Adams smaller contract opens up even more cap space for them while only giving up a second round pick
OKC is never going to take back Adams. There’s a reason for them having ten thousand 1st Rd draft picks for the rest of the decade … their GM is not named Griffin.
KOJ plays in GSW he ain’t with the NYK, ya know mate!
He’s going to be a free agent, and I’m pretty sure they could sign him and trade him just like any other team. Most sign and trades happen with the team that previously had the player because of the bird rights and restrictions on FA but I’m pretty sure any team can do it