New Report on NBA Legend Joining Pelicans Front Office

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly eying an NBA legend for their new front office opening
Apr 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  New Orleans Pelicans bench reacts to a play against the Miami Heat during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
Apr 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans bench reacts to a play against the Miami Heat during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
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The New Orleans Pelicans finished their 2024-25 regular season with a loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, capping off a seven-game losing streak.

The next morning, the Pelicans made a huge decision to part ways with executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin. Griffin spent six seasons with the franchise, but after a disastrous 21-61 season, the Pelicans have decided to move on.

Now, the Pelicans are reportedly eying an NBA legend to replace Griffin. ESPN's Shams Charania reports that Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a "serious frontrunner" to replace Griffin as the Pelicans' lead basketball executive.

Dumars first spent 14 years as the president of basketball operations for the Detroit Pistons from 2000 to 2014, winning Executive of the Year in the 2002-03 season and leading the franchise to an NBA championship in 2004.

The Pistons legend has been the executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA since 2022, but could now be looking to get back in a team's front office.

Charania also reports that the Pelicans and Dumars are expected to engage in conversations about the new opening in hopes to finalize a deal by the end of the week.

The Pelicans were just 209-263 under Griffin, so getting a new face in the front office is not a bad idea by any means. The Pelicans are coming off one of their worst seasons in franchise history, and while injuries plagued the team, they certainly needed to make some changes.

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Logan Struck
LOGAN STRUCK

Logan Struck is a writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's On SI since 2023