The pelicans separate David Griffin with the head of the basketball operations

The pelicans made the playoffs twice in the 6 years, in which David Griffin served as the team’s basketball operations.

New Orleans (AP) -The New Orleans Pelicans released David Griffin, Basketball Operation and ended a six-year chapter in which the club Designed former Duke superstar Zion Williamson But still trying to win consistently with three different trainers.

New Orleans Pelicans partly to David Griffinhtpps: //t.co/us7ywBlvwf

– New Orleans Pelicans (@Pelicansnba) April 14, 2025

Griffin, whose title was Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, leaves his post a day after one 115-100 loss against Oklahoma City This extended the injury injury club season at the end of seven games.

“This was a difficult decision, but one that I think is necessary at the time to get our front office a new approach and build a culture that provides sustainable success,” said Gayle Benson, owner of Pelicans, in a written explanation.

The 21-61 record of the Pelikane-der Foursmeleste in the NBA this season-War The second worst brand of franchise since its arrival in New Orleans in 2002 and the worst since the 2004-05 season, when the club called the Hornets, 18-64.

But the failures of the pelicans this season – their first in the last four without off -season – seemed less to be connected to the talent level on the squad than the health of all their starter and even prominent reserves.

Injuries were so widespread that Griffin never watched top players in the team that he had put together last summer, together under the direction of Willie Green, the coach that he hired four years ago.

Green’s future remains uncertain and could still be decided by Griffins.

“I haven’t had any conversations yet, discussions,” said Green on Sunday, when he was asked with the club after his future. “I didn’t do it great. I have to take full possession of where we are as a team. We failed. I failed.”

But Green said he hoped that the club’s evaluation of the previous three seasons when New Orleans qualified for the Western Conference Play-in and made twice in a playoff series in the first round.

“I think that’s important. You are trying to look at the work,” said Green. “But I didn’t give myself this job. I had to be selected for this position and I’m grateful.”

Green succeeded Stan van Gundy, who was released in 2021 after just a non-playoff season. Van Gundy was discontinued in 2020 after gripping Alvin Gentry was released, a trainer whom he inherited in 2019 and was thought to be a campaign that also ended before the post -season.

This season Williamson missed 52 games due to several injuries, with his thigh tribes being the worst of them.

The start of the guard dejounte Murray anche as the highest takeover of the club in the last at the last at the time at the time of at least season 51 games because of hand and Achilles injuries.

Herb Jones, who was recognized as one of the best defensive players in the NBA, missed 62 games with repeated right shoulder injuries.

The high scoring wing Brandon Ingram, which began this season about the lack of a contract extension that he was looking for, appeared in just 18 games with New Orleans due to an ankle injury before he was traded after Toronto in February.

Trey Murphy III missed 29 games with several injuries.

Griffin, who did not speak to the media on Sunday, joined the Pelicans in 2019. Shortly thereafter, the Pelicans won the NBA Lottery of the NBA and allowed them to design the consensus -top -face view of the consensus for them this year.

But what seemed lucky in retrospect at that time looks more like a curse.

Williamson was plagued by injuries, has missed 258 out of 472 games of the regular season-and has never performed in a post-season game.

The pelicans have a regular season record of 209-263, since Griffin and Williamson designed, and the club lost both playoff series in the first round that she reached during this time.

The record of this season was also the worst pelican since Benson’s late husband Tom, Tom, the Club 2012.

These results have left uncertainty in relation to the upcoming pelicans outside of the season – not only for the front office and trainer staff.

“We really don’t know who comes back. I’m just trying to be honest with them,” said Murphy. “Nobody is safe.”