NBA News: Frontrunner Poised to Take Over After Pelicans Fire Exec David Griffin

After recording their worst season since becoming the New Orleans Pelicans, the team has fired its top basketball executive, VP and head of basketball operations David Griffin. And a new frontrunner is already rumored to be poised to take over the job.

The New Orleans Pelicans have fired executive vice president David Griffin, sources tell ESPN. After six seasons, the franchise will have a new head of basketball operations. pic.twitter.com/4VgYeMzwr3
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 14, 2025

According to insider Shams Charania, former Detroit Pistons multi-time champion Joe Dumars is the frontrunner to take over the reins of the Pelicans.

Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a serious front-runner to become the lead basketball executive with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN. The 2003 executive of the year and 2004 champion with the Detroit Pistons is a Louisiana native.

Dumars is from Shreveport, Louisiana, and would be a good fit to return to his home state. He won back-to-back titles as a player with the Pistons in 1989 and 1990, then won the NBA Executive of the Year in 2003, and built the teamin Detroit that won the title in 2004.

Charania says that Dumars is expected to engage in conversations with the Pels this week, to try to finalize a deal. He is currently the NBA's executive vice president, head of basketball operations.

As for Griffin, his tenure was racked by some notable issues which held the team back from achieving its goals: Zion Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 Draft has been a superstar when he's played, but he's only managed to suit up for less than 45% of his team's games in his six years in the league.

Griffin also oversaw the forced Anthony Davis trade, in which he received Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart. Ball and Ingram, both great players in their time in New Orleans, also missed considerable chunks of time while with the Pelicans.

The team finished this season at 21-61 -- the fourth-worst record in the NBA.