By Gee Bino | The Who Dat Daily
The New Orleans Pelicans have remained surprisingly quiet during free agency, leading many supporters to question whether the organization is doing enough to improve the roster.
Outside of adding veteran center DeAndre Jordan to bolster the front court, the Pelicans have yet to make a significant splash this offseason.
But perhaps the lack of major moves tells us something much bigger.
Perhaps the new leadership group simply believes the Pelicans already possess enough talent to win.
If that’s the case, Executive Vice President Joe Dumars, General Manager Troy Weaver, and head coach Jamahl Mosley are making a bold statement:
The problem was never talent.
The David Griffin Era Produced Mixed Results
When the Pelicans parted ways with former Executive Vice President David Griffin in April 2025, the organization was signaling that it needed a fresh start.
Griffin’s tenure produced moments of promise but ultimately fell short of expectations.
Over six seasons running basketball operations in New Orleans, Griffin compiled a regular-season record of 209-263, good for a .443 winning percentage.
The Pelicans reached the playoffs just twice during his six seasons and never advanced beyond the first round.
Season-By-Season Results Under Griffin:
2019-20: 30-42 (Missed playoffs)
2020-21: 31-41 (Missed playoffs)
2021-22: 36-46 (Made playoffs; lost 4-2 in First Round)
2022-23: 42-40 (Missed playoffs; lost in Play-In Tournament)
2023-24: 49-33 (Made playoffs; swept 4-0 in First Round)
2024-25: 21-61 (Missed playoffs)
While injuries certainly played a role, particularly surrounding franchise cornerstone Zion Williamson, the organization also struggled to establish continuity and a consistent identity.
During Griffin’s six years in charge, the Pelicans cycled through three head coaches and routinely failed to maximize a roster that featured talented players such as Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, Jordan Hawkins, Yves Missi, and others.
Ultimately, ownership decided a complete philosophical reset was needed.
Joe Dumars Doesn’t Believe The Pelicans Are Far Away
Since taking over basketball operations, Joe Dumars has publicly stated that he does not believe New Orleans is far away from competing.
That comment speaks volumes.
Rather than tearing down the roster and beginning another rebuild, Dumars appears convinced that the Pelicans already possess the foundational talent necessary to contend.
The front office’s actions support that belief.
Despite receiving trade interest, New Orleans has reportedly maintained a steep asking price for Trey Murphy III while also showing little desire to move promising young center Yves Missi.
Those decisions suggest the new regime sees both players as long-term building blocks.
Jamahl Mosley Could Be The Biggest Acquisition Of The Offseason
The Pelicans may not have landed a marquee free agent, but they did make what could prove to be their most important offseason addition.
Hiring Jamahl Mosley was a direct response to many of the issues that plagued the previous regime.
Mosley is highly respected around the NBA for his ability to develop young players, establish culture, and build elite defensive teams.
During his tenure in Orlando, Mosley transformed the Magic from one of the NBA’s weakest defensive teams into one of the league’s top defensive units.
The Pelicans are hoping he can do the same in New Orleans.
Mosley’s emphasis on:
Defensive accountability
Communication
Effort
Physicality
Player development
could be exactly what this talented roster needs.
The Front Office Has Been Completely Reshaped
Dumars has not stopped with the coaching staff.
The organization has aggressively reshaped its front office by adding respected basketball executive Troy Weaver while also hiring Amanda Green as Executive Director of Strategy and Analytics.
Green arrives from the Oklahoma City Thunder organization, one of the NBA’s premier franchises when it comes to maximizing talent and roster construction.
These moves suggest that the Pelicans are attacking organizational weaknesses just as aggressively as roster weaknesses.
The Pressure Is Now On Everyone
This strategy comes with enormous pressure.
By largely standing pat in free agency, the new leadership group is effectively betting that coaching, culture, accountability, and player development will unlock the roster’s true potential.
The excuses are gone.
If Jamahl Mosley cannot immediately maximize floor spacers, improve the team’s defensive identity, and transform the Pelicans into a disciplined, winning team, questions about the roster’s ceiling will quickly return.
But for now, Joe Dumars and the Pelicans are making their position clear:
They believe the talent is already here.
Now, they must prove it.
About The Author
Gee Bino
Senior Writer | The Who Dat Daily
Gee Bino is a senior writer and columnist for The Who Dat Daily, covering the New Orleans Pelicans, Saints, LSU athletics, and the Gulf South sports landscape. He specializes in roster construction, player development, front-office strategy, and breaking news coverage. Follow The Who Dat Daily for daily news, analysis, and exclusive team coverage.
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