Joe Dumars Reportedly Favored to Be Pelicans' Lead Basketball Exec After Griffin Exit

After firing executive vice president David Griffin on Monday, the New Orleans Pelicans reportedly already have a plan for their next head of basketball operations.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Basketball Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a "serious front-runner to become the lead basketball executive" for the Pelicans. Charania added that the two sides "are expected to engage in conversations to finalize a deal by the end of the week."

After his stellar playing career with the Detroit Pistons, in which he won two NBA championships and earned six All-Star appearances, Dumars became the team's president of basketball operations in 2000. He held the position until 2014, earning NBA Executive of the Year in 2003 and building a roster that won an NBA title in 2004.

Following his departure from the Pistons, Dumars joined the Sacramento Kings as a special advisor to the general manager in 2019. A year later, he was named chief strategy officer, and he remained with the organization until 2022. He then transitioned to the league office as executive vice president and head of basketball operations for the NBA.

Griffin ran the basketball operations for the Pelicans for the last six seasons, but the team finished no better than eighth in the Western Conference during his tenure. The 2024-25 season was particularly disappointing, as injuries to multiple key players led to an abysmal 21-61 finish to the year.

If Dumars takes over in New Orleans, he will be tasked with figuring out a plan for polarizing star Zion Williamson. The 2019 No. 1 pick was limited to just 30 games this year in yet another lost season, so there are questions as to whether he should even remain the face of the franchise.