The New Orleans Pelican fired David Griffin at the end of the season, but that’s not as big a move as it looks.
On April 14, after recording the 2024-25 NBA season second in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelican fired Vice President David Griffin.
During his tenure, Griffin traded Anthony Davis, drafted Zion Williamson, and brought in CJ McCollum and De Joan Murray. The Pelicans only made the postseason twice, never made any progress and often did not reach the expectations laid out for them.
Griffin was the architect of the second interaction of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers before he could spot his head with owner Dan Gilbert, who left Cleveland for New Orleans.
In the Pelicans, Griffin rarely had to make tough choices, but injuries often piled up and limited success.
After trading the unhappy Anthony Davis for Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and the Los Angeles Lakers, Griffin did what everyone would do and drafted Zion Williamson first. Williamson is considered one of the best college outlooks since Blake Griffin and was expected to become one of the league’s most dominant players.
Unfortunately, injuries piled up every year for both Williamson and his supporting cast. It reached the head this season when 18 different players failed to compete in at least 45 games.
Could Griffin foreshadow Williamson’s battle with injury? Perhaps he missed time in his only season with Duke, so it was very clear, but still is.
Getting Griffin off could be a necessary step as he’s become addicted under his leadership, but the Detroit Pistons firing Troy Weaver last summer was not the whole solution.
When healthy, it’s a very solid lineup that Williamson, Yves Missi, Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III come out of the bench, but as the Pelicans know, they’re not given health.
Plus, even healthy teams can’t rival the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, La Clippers, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies teams. Additionally, the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs are on the rise.
Griffin’s Pelican was built to win 42-47 games at best perhaps Pass the first round.
New Orleans was not a free agent destination, so Griffin’s replacement must be built organically.
During Griffin’s tenure, the Pelicans selected Eve Misi, Jordan Hawkins, Dyson Daniels, Herb Jones, Kira Lewis and Williamson. Even in hindsight, none of these players are particularly disappointed.
Griffin did what he could in the market where he worked, but it cannot simply become a destination until New Orleans establishes himself as a perennial winner.