New Orleans Pelicans: 5 candidates to replace Dell Demps as GM
By Duncan Smith
No. 1 Sam Hinkie
Whenever a team is searching for a general manager, Sam Hinkie’s name comes up. Mind you, it doesn’t come up in the discussions of the people making the actual decisions, but he remains NBA Twitter’s most popular choice for every available job.
Unfortunately for NBA Twitter, the stain of the Process which the Philadelphia 76ers undertook while under his leadership seems to remain too fresh. It’s likely Hinkie is capable of much more than a top-down tear-down, but he’s probably not going to get a shot at proving that in New Orleans.
No. 2 Joe Dumars
In a tweet from ESPN’s Marc Spears, he suggested Isiah Thomas and Avery Johnson as possible candidates. He also suggested Detroit Pistons‘ Hall of Famer Joe Dumars. Unlike Thomas, Dumars has experienced success as an executive, building a Piston Eastern Conference dynasty that went to six straight Eastern Conference Finals.
Dumars’ run of brilliance came to a crashing end in Detroit, perhaps due to his own mistakes and also perhaps due to a time of transition after the passing of Pistons’ owner Bill Davidson which financially restricted him.
One person who’s very close to people in the Pelicans organization and who’s been linked to the team in the past but I’m told will not be coming on board as GM or in other capacity is:
— Fletcher Mackel (@FletcherWDSU) February 15, 2019
Joe Dumars
Whatever the ultimate reason for Dumars’ ignominious departure from the Pistons’ organization, his redemption is not likely to come in New Orleans. Perhaps one day down the road Dumars will return to the NBA in some capacity, but this location in this chapter of Pelicans’ history will not be the time or place.