3 big questions surrounding the New Orleans Pelicans’ future

2. Is Alvin Gentry the coach of the future?

Where the team goes moving forward is incredibly hinged upon what happens with Anthony Davis. If he stays on the roster, the plan every season is to compete for a championship. If he is ultimately traded, though, what comes next?

Seemingly any trade for Davis would bring a return of young players or assets, triggering a rebuild of some kind. While the utter mention of a rebuild to a small market is like dousing holy water on a demon, teams like the Atlanta Hawks and Dallas Mavericks have shown that if you acquire the right young talent, one or two solid seasons of paying dues can put you right back in the game.

If the Pelicans decide to make a move for the future, it could be a signaling of the end for head coach Alvin Gentry.

In his four seasons with New Orleans, Gentry has a total record of 145-183. Outside of the 2017-18 season, he has failed to get the Pelicans into the postseason, or even above 40 wins. A lot of this shouldn’t blamed on Gentry, who has had to make the best with the parts he’s been given.

However, when franchises gear up to move in a new direction, coaches put in place by the previous regime don’t tend to stick around for long. This is especially true for a head coach who hasn’t found much success with the team.