Pelicans Reportedly 'Bracing' for David Griffin Exit, Willie Green Status 'tenuous'

The New Orleans Pelicans, mired in a 21-60 season, could be in line for some major changes this offseason.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, "This is [executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin's] sixth season in charge and there are some in New Orleans, league sources say, who are undeniably bracing for his exit... with [head coach Willie Green's] status also tenuous."

Green is just 148-179 in four seasons with the Pelicans, leading the team to a pair of playoff appearances but no series wins.

One pain point for both men has been the offseason decision to acquire guard Dejounte Murray for Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, Cody Zeller, Larry Nance Jr. and a pair of first-round picks. Murray has appeared in just 31 games this season, missing 17 games earlier in the season with a broken hand before a torn right Achilles tendon ended his season in late January.

As Stein wrote, "The pain of Murray's limited availability, meanwhile, was only exacerbated by the rise of Daniels in Atlanta after the Pelicans included him in the Murray deal. As a Hawk, Daniels has emerged as a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. And his rise has been a source of tension in the organization this season, with Green facing questions internally about his perceived past preferences for playing pesky guard Jose Alvarado rather than Daniels."

Some of New Orleans' struggles this season, of course, have simply been down to terrible luck with injuries.

Murray, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram never shared the floor together as a trio before Ingram was dealt to the Toronto Raptors in February. Alvarado, Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones also suffered significant injuries this season. CJ McCollum was shut down in late March for the remainder of the season due to a bone bruise in his right foot.

The direction of the Pelicans going forward—and who shapes that future if Griffin and Green find themselves on the hook—remains to be seen. The talented but injury-prone Williamson will probably remain the centerpiece of the organization, in part because it's hard to imagine another team giving up market value in a trade for a player who struggles to stay healthy and has three years and $126.3 million remaining on his contract (though it isn't fully guaranteed).

Winning the lottery would be huge for the Pelicans, obviously, giving them a new franchise cornerstone in Cooper Flagg. But the Pels currently have just a 12.5 percent chance to do so, while there is a 44.6 percent chance they fall out of the top five and miss out on the top prospects.

It's a big summer for New Orleans. The franchise appears to be at a fork in the road, and there remains a lot of doubt about whether the pairing of Griffin and Green will decide which route they go.