Pelicans fire top executive David Griffin after another lost season
Drafting Zion Williamson proved to be a career-killer for David Griffin.
The Pelicans fired Griffin, their executive vice president of basketball operations, on Monday after the franchise missed the playoffs for the fourth time in his six seasons.
Griffin tallied a 209-263 record and won two playoffs games in his stint, which included this year’s 21-61 mark.
“This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success, on and off the court. I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city,” team owner Gayle Benson said in a team statement released Monday.
“That is what our fans deserve. I am truly appreciative of David for his leadership and many contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community over the last six years. We wish David and his wife, Meredith, and their family all the best moving forward.”
Griffin had the enviable position of becoming the top executive for a team that held the first pick in a draft headlined by Williamson, once considered a can’t-miss prospect.
But Williamson’s career has been plagued by injury issues and the Pelicans have failed to develop into a consistent contender without their top player.
Williamson topped 60 games twice in the last six years, missed the entire 2021-22 season due to injury and played in just 30 games this past year.
The Pelicans won 30, 31, 36, 49 and 42 games in Griffin’s first five years before bottoming out this season, cycling through three coaches along the way.
Griffin previously worked for the Cavaliers and Suns, and his time with the Pelicans also included high-profile trades involving sending Anthony Davis to the Lakers and Brandon Ingram to the Raptors.
“While our focus is a championship on the court, we are also making sure that we do the same off the court, by continuing to prioritize the fan experience, and ensuring our games are easily accessible across our entire Gulf South region on multiple convenient platforms,” Benson said. “In addition, we are working to determine the best path forward to transform the Smoothie King Center into the best arena in the NBA. We look forward to delivering on these priorities for our fans.”
The Pelicans finished with the fourth-worst record in the NBA, which provides them with a 1/8 (12.5 percent) chance of landing the No. 1 pick and projected top prospect Cooper Flagg.
This dismissal comes after the Nuggets shockingly fired GM Calvin Booth, along with head coach Michael Malone, right before the season ended despite being in the mix for a top-six seed.
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