Pelicans expected to hire Willie Green as head coach?

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly close to finding their replacement for former head coach Stan Van Gundy. 

Over the weekend, Fletcher Mackel of New Orleans television station WDSU reported Phoenix Suns assistant Willie Green was the "presumed" next coach of the Pelicans. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski then said Tuesday that the Pelicans "are progressing on a deal" to hire Green, but no contract had yet been signed. 

Green was a 12-year NBA veteran as a player and later worked on the coaching staff of the Golden State Warriors for several years before spending the last two seasons with the Suns. He turns 40 years old before the end of the month and would become the third-youngest head coach in the NBA. 

The Pelicans parted ways with Van Gundy after only one season last month. He guided New Orleans to a disappointing 31-41 record in 2020-21. 

The Suns, meanwhile, hold a 2-1 series lead over the Milwaukee Bucks in the ongoing NBA Finals. Game 4 between the Suns and Bucks takes place Wednesday night in Milwaukee.