Everyone has been talking about the New Orleans Pelicans and how head coach Stan Van Gundy almost came out of nowhere to land their head coaching job. Though not a lot of players in the current Pelicans roster know their newly acquired head coach on a personal level, it’s been reported that his former player in JJ Redick actually played a huge role in helping the front office in pursue the 61-year old head coach. “JJ Redick, I have been told, had a big role here.” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on ‘The Jump’. “JJ played for him [in Orlando], was a big part of the background and recruiting process.”
More on Pelicans Coaching Search
The New Orleans Pelicans have named Stan Van Gundy as the team’s head coach, it was announced today by Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin. Van Gundy becomes the seventh coach in Pelicans franchise history. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are delighted to welcome Stan, his wife Kim and their family to the New Orleans Pelicans,” said Griffin. “Stan’s track record of success as a head coach speaks for itself. His ability to teach while building genuine relationships was one of his many strengths that drew us to him. We feel like we are hiring one of the most accomplished leaders and authentic human beings in the NBA.”
“I am honored and excited to coach this talented group of players in New Orleans,” said Van Gundy. “This opportunity was one that I was really attracted to due in large part to David Griffin’s record of putting together highly competitive, talented teams in a great family atmosphere. When I got into the interview process and had a chance to meet with Mrs. Benson, Dennis Lauscha, Griff, Trajan Langdon, Swin Cash and the Pelicans front office, it became clear how committed and invested they are to winning. My wife Kim and I want to thank Mrs. Benson, along with Griff, Trajan, Swin and the front office for welcoming our family and entrusting me to lead this team. We look forward to working with this great organization and getting involved in the New Orleans community.”
“It is a pleasure to welcome Stan and his family to New Orleans,” said Pelicans Governor Gayle Benson. “Stan’s basketball acumen and record of accomplishment are a tremendous fit for this team right now. We look forward to Stan bringing a level of sustained success for our Pelicans on the court. I also want to commend David Griffin, Trajan Langdon, Swin Cash and the entire front office for the time and effort put into this comprehensive head coaching search.”
Van Gundy’s ability to teach was one of his most appealing attributes, per a team source, but New Orleans is also tired of being a doormat on the defensive end. It’s been a trait that’s stuck with the Pelicans even when incredible defenders such as Davis and Jrue Holiday led the team.
Stan Van Gundy has agreed to a multi-year deal to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Van Gundy, the former Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons head coach, becomes the seventh coach in Pelicans' franchise history. The Pelicans and Van Gundy's representative, Brain Elfus, reached agreement on terms Wednesday morning, according to sources.
As New Orleans' front office navigated the coaching waters, Van Gundy's reputation as a teacher of the game in his 11-plus seasons as an NBA head coach stood out - teaching that will become key as New Orleans attempts to make the leap with a young roster. Van Gundy's teams also have always stood out on the defensive end. In the 11 seasons he finished as a head coach, Van Gundy's teams were in the top half in the NBA in defensive rating 10 times - including his last three seasons in Detroit. His teams finished top 10 in defensive rating eight of those seasons.
Van Gundy will be expected to help guide the young Pelicans through their growing pains and into the playoffs. New Orleans has only made the playoffs in two of the last nine seasons with only a single series win - a first-round sweep over Portland in the 2018 playoffs.
Scott Kushner: Folks around the Pelicans have told me David Griffin was really impressed with SVG during interview process. I expect we'll hear the phrase "phenomenal human" at some point during the press conference.
Adrian Wojnarowski: ESPN reporting with @_andrew_lopez : Stan Van Gundy has agreed to a deal to become the next coach of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Shams Charania: Sources: Stan Van Gundy agreed to a four-year deal to be the new Pelicans head coach.
Scott Kushner: I’ve been told by several people the discussions between David Griffin and Stan Van Gundy have gone very well, and there’s “an obvious mutual respect there”. This isn’t to say SVG is the front runner — but he’s clearly a viable candidate.
The Pelicans have four finalists for their head coaching job, including Stan Van Gundy and Ty Lue who are meeting in New Orleans with team officials this week and are seen as the expected choices to be offered the job. Two more finalists are expected to interview next week, sources said. Sources added Lakers assistant Jason Kidd is not part of the Pelicans’ process right now.
Van Gundy's reputation as a teacher of the game in 11-plus seasons with the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons has made him a formidable candidate for a young Pelicans roster. The Pelicans -- 30-42 and 13th in the Western Conference last season -- have a young core that includes Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, as well as veterans Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick. The Pelicans are expected to be a team capable of making significant progress in the standings in the next few years.
The Ringer: Stan Van Gundy might be looking to get out of the commentary booth and back into the coach's chair, per @KevinOConnorNBA.
Clevis Murray: Coaching possibilities: - Clippers could make a decision this week with Mike Brown as a strong possibility. - Jason Kidd is a candidate for the Pelicans job. - Mike D’Antoni is still a candidate for Pacers job. David Joerger’s interview wasn’t impressive.
Brian Windhorst on Pelicans coaching job: I have heard sort of an underrated name there: Will Weaver, who right now coaches the Sydney Kings of the Australian League. He was previously with the nets in the Long Island
Marc Stein: Tyronn Lue has completed sitdowns with the Clippers and the Pelicans about their coaching openings ... and Lue's interview for the Rockets' coaching vacancy, league sources say, will now take place this week after it was moved from the weekend
Get Up: It is not a forgone conclusion that Ty Lue will end up as the Clippers' next head coach, according to @wojespn. "I'm told he's going to meet with New Orleans soon. Houston wants to talk him."
Adrian Wojnarowski: Houston and New Orleans are among teams planning to interview Clippers assistant Ty Lue in near future, sources tell ESPN. The Clippers are expected to begin meeting with coaching candidates soon -- and Lue will be prominent in that search to replace Doc Rivers.
The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to interview Lue in the near future too, sources said. Lue and Pelicans Executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin have strong ties, most notably working together to win an NBA title in Cleveland in 2016.
The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to interview Lue in the near future too, sources said. Lue and Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin have strong ties, most notably working together to win an NBA title with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Rivers has also been contacted by the New Orleans Pelicans. However, sources say he appears to be happy living in Southern California. The Clippers also have to pay him for the remaining years of his contract. So he could opt to sit out next season with the uncertainty of the schedule.
Lue, a former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, has some options. The Clippers reached out to him Monday about being a candidate to replace Rivers, who is a close friend, according to sources. Sources added that representatives of the New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to fly to the West Coast for an informal meeting with Lue on Friday. He’s also scheduled to interview for the Houston Rockets job next week. But Lue is interested in coaching the Sixers.
Marc J. Spears: New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers have already reached out to former Clippers head coach Doc Rivers in regards to their head coach openings, sources told @TheUndefeated.
David Griffin, the executive vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans, was spotted before the Pelicans’ exit visiting with the Clippers’ in-demand assistant coach Tyronn Lue. Griffin and Lue have a history, as the former general manager and coach of the title-winning Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, so the sight of former work colleagues spending time together on a campus that housed 22 N.B.A. teams is not notable in itself.
Lue, of course, has also been mentioned for months as a top candidate in the Nets’ looming coaching search. The latest rumbles in N.B.A. coaching circles suggest that the Nets or the Philadelphia 76ers are more likely landing spots for Lue than New Orleans despite his Griffin ties.
Lue’s price tag could price him out of a place like New Orleans, where league sources say the team is expected to spend about $5.5 million annually on its coach. Pelicans executives would not discuss their coaching search with The Athletic.
Had Lue not taken the job with Rivers on the Clippers, sources said, Lue may have been hired in New Orleans earlier this season. There were frustrations at Christmas time inside the organization with Alvin Gentry, sources said, though Gentry was allowed to stay on for the rest of the year because Williamson returned from injury, the Pels started winning, and there weren’t candidates on the open market to step in.
Among those coaches expected to be part of the Pelicans search: Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Clippers assistant Ty Lue and former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, sources said. The Pelicans are also expected to have an interest in Brooklyn interim coach Jacque Vaughn, should the Nets decide not to retain him, sources said.
