Former UConn head coach Kevin Ollie, who was interim coach of the Nets at the end of the 2023/24 season, is among the candidates for the Pelicans‘ head coaching job, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
A journeyman guard who played for 11 different teams in his 13 NBA seasons, Ollie began his coaching career after retiring as a player in 2010. He was the head coach at UConn from 2012-18 and won a national title with the Huskies in 2014 but lost his job after the NCAA opened an investigation into UConn and its coaches for recruiting violations.
Ollie was also the head coach of the Overtime Elite program from 2021-23 and was a finalist for the Pistons’ top coaching job in the 2023 offseason.
James Borrego, who is expected to remain interim coach of the Pelicans for the rest of the season in the wake of Willie Green‘s dismissal, will also be considered for the full-time role, Begley adds.
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- While Borrego is respected by the new front office led by executive VP of basketball operations Joe Dumars, Chris Dodson of ClutchPoints hears there’s skepticism the former Hornets coach will replace Green on a permanent basis. Citing a source, Dodson says Dumars is “quietly” looking for a new head coach who could “completely shake up the organization and reset the culture.” Dodson lists who he views as the six best external candidates for the position, including Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins.
- On a conference call with the media, Dumars explained his rationale for firing Green, as Jim Eichenhofer of Pelicans.com relays. “I was looking for the team to compete hard every night,” Dumars said Saturday, reiterating a message he delivered at his introductory press conference in April. “If we start losing the same way over and over again, that’s not improvement. That was really the one thing I talked to the coaching staff about, ‘Guys, we have to establish that we’re going to play hard every night.’ Before you can become anything in this league, you have to establish that first as a team. It was that judgment (that led to a change) more than identity, more than the offense or defense, or the won-loss record.”
- When asked if he was concerned about trading the team’s 2026 first-round pick in a draft-day deal with Atlanta (to acquire Derik Queen), Dumars said he hasn’t been thinking about it, per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link). “I’m not sitting here worried about the pick that we don’t have,” Dumars said.
Pelicans need to be real active in making trades cause they have some talented pieces but they don’t have a group that plays well together, no culture no cohesion.
I think Trey is a stud who is just struggling with this poor constructed and coached roster.
Zion obviously has talent but is never there.
Herb is a great defender but lacks the offence.
Poole is kinda an empty stats guy.
Murray was good pre injury just lacks efficiency but be interesting to see how he goes.
Queen has shown bits and I like that
Missi hasn’t done much this year.
Fears again shown bits but not enough yet.
Not sure where you go to get out of this position but I know right now as constructed it won’t work.
Do you go younger and then lack experience and locker room guys. Do you go older and try win more now but that only works in the short term.
Not sure what the chances are but what about Zion and Missi for Sabonis?
Murray Poole Trey Herb Sabonis
Not sure how Queen would factor in maybe as a 4/5 off the bench and form a twin towers and serve as a back up.
Sabonis atleast plausible the game the right way, is a top tier centre, rebounds really well, scores well and can be a facilitator for you. Plus you don’t have to worry about his availability and attitude like you do Zion.
As for the Kings they look set for a rebuild. Zion gives them a guy with X factor, Missi replaces Sabonis at centre. Keegan Murray there for spacing, LaVine and Zion would be a very entertaining athletic duo but you’d need a point guard to really make it all work.
to start i think theyve got:
starters: fears, herb, trey, DQ
bench: jose, bey, missi, maybe micah?
zion, poole, dejounte, anyone else is available.
if DQ can develop a shot, target a rim protector. if he cant, i think you just roll with him at the 5 and you try to get another big who can shoot. JJJ would be the dream scenario as a floor spacer and a rim protector, lauri would be another as a pure offense guy, both seem impossible.
sabonis feels reduntant with where DQ is headed. idk what good options remain, maybe theres a sleeper hit waiting out there somewhere, but i think you start with those 7/8 guys and build around that.
im sure ive got a lot of copium goin on but i swear theres a decent team in here somewhere, just need to round it out with the right pieces.