12:02 pm: The Pelicans have officially confirmed that they’ve hired Mosley as their new head coach, announcing the move in a press release.
“Jamahl has earned tremendous respect across the NBA for his leadership, professionalism, and the strong relationships he develops with players and staff,” Pelicans executive VP of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement. “He has consistently demonstrated an ability to develop young talent while establishing teams that compete with toughness, discipline, and togetherness. His teams reflect his coaching style through their defensive intensity, effort, preparation, and commitment to playing the right way. Those qualities reinforce the long-term stability of a winning culture.”
9:55 am: The Pelicans will hire Jamahl Mosley as their next head coach on a five-year contract, sources tell ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link).
Team officials have been in “constant communication” with Mosley since he was fired by the Magic on May 4 following their first-round playoff loss, Charania adds. They were able to meet in person during last week’s draft combine in Chicago.
Charania states that the Pelicans believe their situation is similar to Orlando’s in 2021 when Mosley took over following a 21-61 season. Mosley steadily built the Magic into a playoff team that placed a heavy emphasis on having one of the league’s best defenses.
Mosley will replace interim coach James Borrego, who was among the candidates that were interviewed during the search. He was hired as the team’s associate head coach in 2024 and compiled a 24-46 record after Willie Green was dismissed in November. There’s no word yet on whether Borrego will remain with the franchise or what the plans are to round out Mosley’s staff.
The Pelicans had been conducting a coaching search since the regular season ended more than a month ago, and there was speculation that their interest in Mosley was the reason the process was taking so long. Jake Fischer of The Stein Line first mentioned Mosley as a potential candidate all the way back in the fall when Green was let go, while Michael Scotto confirmed last month that the coach had “several admirers” in New Orleans.
Other reported candidates for the job included Bucks coaching associate Rajon Rondo, Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel, Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, and Bucks associate head coach Darvin Ham.
Mosley had a 189-221 record in his five seasons with the Magic and led the team to three playoff appearances. However, his failure to advance past the first round led to his dismissal as he lost in seven, five and seven games over the last three years.
He’ll be in charge of a Pelicans team that has underachieved in recent seasons, but features a good mix of veteran players and young talent, Charania notes in a full story. New Orleans doesn’t own its first-round pick in this year’s draft, and its only current selection is at No. 58.
The Pelicans’ decision leaves Orlando, Chicago and Portland as the remaining teams without head coaches in place.
This was expected
Dumb. He just blew a 3-1 lead and he was outted by his players at being terrible at making in-game adjustments. Pelicans are cooked for the next 3-4 years.
Sounds like a typical Dumars hire!
No he is a goddess development coach. Did a great job with the magic developing. However, once the team gets into needing to win is not going to work out. He doesn’t really have any schemes. Doesn’t know how to call timeouts and it seems like he has an issue managing multiple star players. But maybe he has learned. Not really big on hiring recently. Fire coaches.
Pistons just did this and we see the exact reason why old buddy was fired from the cavs. Can’t be the number one seed and have two first round seven game series. Especially Orlando should have closed that series out. I believe when coaches get fired they should go back to assistant coach for 2 to 3 years to fix the problems that they had and then retry
I wish your theory could be applied to some of these corporate CEOs!
Gms definitely shouldn’t get another job after they just gotten fired d make zero sense. I’m only speaking on coaches because that’s what we’re talking about. But I completely agree with you and if you get fired from one company, you shouldn’t just go right down the street and get hired as a CEO either
Exactly what adjustment could he have made with a whole roster full of light skin Julius Randles???
5 year deal?? I can easily say that deal will not last 5 years. There are so many asst coaches that deserve a shot why hire off the same old coach train?
He’s only 47
most coaches dont last 3 years
Thats actually a good move
This franchise is headed nowhere. He’s a good coach but there were better candidates than him.
Rondo would have been more fun.
What’s stupid about this is even if you like Mosely, 5 years is too long.
Yes, Rondo, the guy with a criminal record
A misdemeanor conviction, “big deal”
Might as well take a chance on an unknown with upside rather than a known quantity with a low ceiling, especially given the team’s short/medium-term outlook. Dumb all the way around.
He was a scapegoat in Orlando. He deserves another shot. He helped build that team. I wish him well. Imo its good to have guys that need to prove themselves. He’ll fit right in. In New Orleans
No one good wants to be in New Orleans, especially with that roster and lack of assets.
Congrats to the Pelicans for going 42-40 the next few years and never getting out of the 1st round if they make the playoffs at all.
that would be an improvement from last year
You’re here for the positive takes too?
Alrighty. I am happy for Jamahl.
He can win if he can pick a good offense assistant. Rondo would be a great hire there. Stackhouse too..
Bridge coach to the next guy
I can see where Dumars wants to go with this. NOP need a more sphysical identity, particularly on the defensive end, and this Mosley built the ORL team along those lines. Still, not sure he’s the right guy.
Also, please stop with the statements about how a coaching candidate “developed young players” and the like. Mosley didn’t develop anyone. Lottery picks come with prepackaged development with a short lead time. It’s like giving parents credit for their kids having grown taller between the ages of 12-17 on their watch.
There are a lot of players who don’t develop properly until they play for a coach that helps them unlock something, or at the very least, gives them adequate playing time and confidence. Who knows if Franz Wagner becomes a legit 20 scoring threat every night with someone other than Mosley? I wouldn’t have seen that coming.
A fairytale. When a top 10 pick doesn’t “develop” its 99% a missed evaluation. Most go from team to team and never live up to the scouting report, which wouldn’t be the case if the problem were development. 29 other teams out there.
Most did see it coming with Wagner. He profiled as a future NBA star (sans the shot) coming out in the draft. Big wings who can’t shoot don’t get picked at #8 in strong draft without that type of profile. The one skill that required development was shooting. Too bad he got none of that, the All Star game would be a annual event for him.
Bad day to be a Big Easy fan!
Lol
I don’t trust dumars at all but I’m hoping for the best. We continue to be mediocre and it sucks as a loyal fan going back to the Charlotte hornets days smh
Look at the bright side, Dumars could’ve tabbed Doc Rivers.
Of all the names mentioned he’s definitely not the worst.