Pelicans announce hiring of Jamahl Mosley as head coach

And the thinking is pretty straightforward.

New Orleans sees some similarities to what Mosley walked into with the Magic back in 2021. That was a rebuild. It started ugly. It eventually turned into a playoff team built on defense and internal growth. That’s the blueprint the Pelicans are hoping to follow.

Mosley replaces interim coach James Borrego, who went 24-46 after taking over when Willie Green was let go in November. Borrego interviewed for the full-time job, but there’s no word yet on whether he’ll remain on staff.

The search itself stretched more than a month, with Mosley frequently mentioned as a leading candidate. Jake Fischer first tied him to the job as far back as the fall, and multiple reports noted he had strong support within the organization.

Other names in the mix included Rajon Rondo, Steve Hetzel, Sean Sweeney, and Darvin Ham.

Mosley compiled a 189-221 record in five seasons with Orlando, reaching the playoffs three times. The issue was what came next. First-round exits. Every time. That ultimately led to the change.

Now he gets another shot. Different roster. Similar expectations.

The Pelicans believe they have the pieces. A mix of proven veterans and young talent. What they haven’t had is consistency.

That’s the job now. Build it. Stabilize it. And maybe, finally, push it forward.