The New Orleans Pelicans have appointed Joe Dumars, a former NBA champion player and executive with the Detroit Pistons, as their new executive vice president of basketball operations. Dumars, 61, succeeds David Griffin, who was let go after a six-year tenure coinciding with the selection of Zion Williamson in 2019. Dumars will assess the future of current coach Willie Green and make crucial decisions regarding Williamson's injury-prone status and the team's strategic direction.
Joe Dumars, a key player in the Detroit Pistons' NBA championship victories in 1989 and 1990, later led the team's front office to another title in 2004. Following his departure from the Pistons in 2014, Dumars held roles in Sacramento's front office and the NBA before joining the Pelicans. The move signifies a new leadership direction for New Orleans as Dumars steps into the pivotal role of shaping the team's basketball operations, marking a significant development in the franchise's management structure.