The Pelicans had a new head coach for Sunday’s game against Golden State, but the result was familiar, writes Les East of NOLA.com. Playing its first game under James Borrego, who was promoted after Willie Green was fired on Saturday, New Orleans suffered its fifth straight loss and fell to 2-11 on the season.
“We’ve got a lot to do,” Borrego said. “The beauty of this game is you come back to work the next day. … It doesn’t get any easier. We’ve got another juggernaut coming in.”
He was referring to Monday’s contest against 13-1 Oklahoma City, which provides another tough challenge for a team badly in need of wins. Borrego made his first lineup change on Sunday, giving a first career start to rookie big man Derik Queen, who finished with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists in 24-plus minutes. The Pelicans got balanced scoring with four players in double figures, but committed 20 turnovers that resulted in 27 Warriors points.
“There were costly, careless turnovers in transition,” Borrego said. “We’ve got to have more poise. There’s a balance between playing fast and frenetic and playing with poise. We’ve got to be opportunistic (in transition).”
There’s more from New Orleans:
- There was surprise around the league that Green wasn’t fired sooner considering the Pelicans’ poor start, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Scotto hears that executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars was supportive of Green early in the season, but conveyed a constant message that the team needed to improve. Sources tell Scotto that offseason addition Jordan Poole was upset after being removed from the starting lineup on October 29, and Green’s coaching style had become “stale” with Trey Murphy III. Scotto adds that some players and other members of the organization believed Green didn’t do enough to hold Zion Williamson accountable.
- Dumars held a meeting with his staff this summer where he talked about emphasizing defense, toughness, high basketball IQ and a high motor, then completed a trade an hour later for Poole, who doesn’t fit that description, sources tell Scotto. Poole’s salary of $31.8MM this season and $34MM in 2026/27 was considered “a tough contract to move” by rival executives, Scotto adds. That trade and the deal sending an unprotected 2026 first-rounder to Atlanta in exchange for Queen were pushed by senior vice president of basketball operations Troy Weaver, Dumars’ long-time associate, Scotto reports.
- Weaver is also a strong supporter of Kevin Ollie, who has been mentioned as a possibility to eventually take over as head coach, Scotto adds. Scotto identifies Tom Thibodeau, Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins as free agent coaches who might interest the Pelicans, but speculates that their “price tags could be too rich” for the team. In his latest Substack column (subscription required), Marc Stein of The Stein Line points to Bucks assistant Darvin Ham as a name to watch in the coaching search.
Michael Malone ……. he can help.
Have to move Zion. Take back your team.
Fold the team, release players and Make NBA Great Again—enough of the rigged trades, drafts, and shadow deals. Adam Silvers clown show is over.
You meant Utah? They have been perpetually tanking since Malone and Stockton. The amount of draft picks you own should be limited by the NBA.
The most rigged draft ever was in the 80s also how did they rig the lottery?
Braille, special contact lenses/glasses, ear pieces, etc
How does any of that work in that air machine (no idea what it is called) that picks the balls?
Hire Tom
Pelicans have talent just they have injuries that no team could survive. Firing Green will not change anything until the team is healthy again.
They share a medical staff with the Saints. They are a joke of an organization. Hiring Weaver and Dumars after what they did to Detroit is another in a long line of moves that make no sense whatsoever.
I remember a few years ago that Kevin Ollie was a hot name in the coaching world. But then he disappeared? I wonder what the reason for that was?
If they’re thinking about hiring Kevin Ollie they might as well hire me Smh
Chris Quinn
Trade Poole for salary relief, he doesn’t care about the Pelicans. Waive Alexander
Use the some money on a better medical staff
Sign Seth Curry and E Bates or Jaylin Martin
Addition by subtraction
Or consider changing the Pelicans name or sell the team. This is the perfect team to relocate
The bucks need to fire Doc and hire Darvin Ham as the HC before someone else does it, out from under them, a second time.