The New Orleans Pelicans have officially parted ways with David Griffin, who had been serving as the executive vice president of basketball operations.
Griffin took on the role in 2019, succeeding Dell Demps, and arrived just before the team secured the top pick in the draft lottery. This opportunity led to the selection of standout prospect Zion Williamson.
One of Griffin’s first significant moves at the helm was orchestrating the blockbuster trade that sent superstar Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In return, the Pelicans received a young core of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart, along with a substantial haul of draft selections. These assets would be expected to help construct a competitive and balanced team around Williamson’s generational talent.
However, the Pelicans’ progress was frequently derailed by injuries, especially to Williamson, who missed both of the team’s recent playoff appearances in 2022 and 2024 due to health setbacks.
These absences limited the team’s ability to make deep postseason runs despite flashes of promise.
Before joining New Orleans, Griffin had previously overseen basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 through the conclusion of the 2016–2017 campaign, a tenure that included helping to build the roster that won the 2016 NBA Championship.
Pelicans owner Gayle Benson addressed the leadership change in a formal statement, saying:
“After considerable thought and evaluation, I have decided to relieve David Griffin of his duties as executive vice president of basketball operations,” Gayle Benson said. “This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success, on and off the court. I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city. That is what our fans deserve. I am truly appreciative of David for his leadership and many contributions to the Pelicans organization and the New Orleans community over the last six years. We wish David and his wife, Meredith, and their family all the best moving forward.”
This move signals a pivotal transition for the Pelicans as they seek a new vision and leadership to elevate the franchise toward long-term competitiveness and, ultimately, a championship-caliber future.
