Pelicans Should Fire Willie Green and David Griffin

Yet somehow, Willie Green and David Griffin still have jobs during a season that has been a flat-out trainwreck. The bottom line is they’ve both made countless controversial decisions and are holding back a promising team.

Let’s look at some of their mistakes during their notorious time in New Orleans.

Questionable Draft Choices

Under David Griffin’s leadership,  the front office’s ability to identify talent has been subpar.

In the 2019 NBA Draft, Jaxson Hayes was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the eighth overall pick and was immediately traded to the Pelicans. He was a raw prospect, but his physical tools made him an intriguing young center. But he never lived up to his high expectations and was out of New Orleans after four underwhelming seasons.

In 2020, the Pels drafted Kira Lewis Jr. out of the University of Alabama with the 13th overall pick. He was seen as a raw guard with high upside. He was a decent shooter in college, connecting on 36% on four attempts a game.

However, his shooting never translated to the NBA. Lewis’s inability to stretch the floor or facilitate effectively held him back. He is now out of New Orleans and struggling to stay in the league.

That is two consecutive first-round selections that turned out to be busts. Meanwhile, David Griffin’s 2023 first-round pick, Jordan Hawkins, isn’t looking too good as his development has slowed down in his second season in the NBA.

He had a reputation for being an elite shooter at UConn, but that hasn’t translated to the NBA so far. This is reflected in his poor efficiency, as he has shot only 37% from the field and 33% from three in his first two seasons.

Hawkins is also a liability on defense and constantly gets picked on by bigger guards. He doesn’t offer much besides shooting, so if he can’t do that well, he will struggle to find a role in the league. However, he is only 22 and has time to turn things around.

Puzzling Front Office Decisions

Many questionable decisions come to mind. One of the most puzzling moves was the Devonte’ Graham extension. In the 2021 offseason, the Pelicans were desperate to surround Zion with shooters, so they struck a deal with Graham in a sign-and-trade with the Charlotte Hornets.

Graham was coming off a few decent seasons in Charlotte, but there were red flags. He never shot well from the field during his tenure with the Hornets and was a poor defender.

The Pels, however, looked past his flaws and signed him to a hefty four-year, $47 million deal.

Graham’s short stint with the Pelicans was severely disappointing. He never shot above 35% from three during his three seasons in New Orleans and was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Josh Richardson. The Pels had to include four second-round picks in the deal, further reflecting how badly they wanted to get out of his inflated contract.

Trading away franchise cornerstone Jrue Holiday has proved to be another crucial mistake. In 2020, they sent Holiday to the Milwaukee Bucks in a four-team deal. In return, they got two first-round picks and two aging veterans: Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams.

Bledsoe’s lone season in New Orleans was forgettable as he averaged only 12 points and four assists. Adams, on the other hand, was average at best. His fit with Zion never worked out as he clogged the paint and could not stretch the floor.

Another mistake was trading Josh Hart. Hart was part of the deal that sent CJ McCollum to the Pelicans. He was an integral defensive glue guy and is now playing the best basketball of his career for the New York Knicks. McCollum, while still an effective player, is as inconsistent as ever and is slowing down due to his age.

It is also imperative to mention Zion’s rocky development in New Orleans. Zion’s inability to stay healthy has shed light on the team’s never-ending injury history. Subsequently, fans have begun to question the effectiveness of the Pelicans’ training staff and the front office.

Head Coaching Blunders

Bad rotations, questionable comments, and inadequate play calling in late-game situations have defined the Pelicans during the Willie Green era.

Green’s offensive system relies too much on isolation scoring. This leads to too many stagnant possessions and low-percentage shots, especially during crunch time. Over the past three years, the Pelicans have a 112-132 record when entering the fourth quarter while trailing, ranking 22nd in the NBA. This reflects Green’s inability to lead his team to wins in the clutch.

His reluctance to play young players is also frustrating. He continuously started center Daniel Theis, a career backup, before giving opportunities to youngsters like Yves Missi and Karlo Matkovic. Another example of Green’s stubbornness was his reluctance to play rookie Antonio Reeves, even when the Pels were clearly out of playoff contention.

He is no stranger to the occasional perplexing soundbites as well. The funniest of which was what he had to say about recently acquired veteran center Kelly Olynyk. In an interview, he said, “We truly want to put the ball in his hands and unlock him.”

Yes — he said that about a 33-year-old backup center.

Willie Green has been dealt a poor hand with all the unfortunate injuries that plagued the Pelicans this season, but his shortcomings cannot be overlooked. Green has continuously failed to maximize his players’ potential and struggles with the strategic aspects of being a head coach in the NBA.

Where Do the Pelicans Go From Here?

David Griffin and Willie Green have failed to build a consistent winner around star Zion Williamson. If the Pelicans want to maximize their current window, a new voice will be needed in the front office. Meanwhile, proven coaches like Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins are now available. Why not take a chance on a head coach with a history of playoff success?

The Pelicans are in a tough spot. But with a fresh voice in the front office and a proven head coach, they will finally be able to compete with the top dogs of the Western Conference.

Pelicans fans deserve a winning team, and now is the time to make a bold move to achieve that.