Pelicans cast wide net in coaching search amid sweeping changes

The Pelicans have a lot going on right now.

Start with the coaching search. The process is being led by head of basketball operations Joe Dumars, and by all indications, New Orleans is taking its time. Sources told Hoops Wire that interim coach James Borrego is considered a legitimate candidate to keep the job.

That’s just one piece of a much larger picture.

According to Shamit Dua of In The N.O., the Pelicans currently have at least 25 openings across both basketball and business operations. That includes seven vacancies within the medical and performance staff.

Some of that is by design. Dua notes the organization has undergone a restructuring. At the same time, there was also uncertainty. Several staffers moved on after the season, unsure if their contracts would be renewed.

So this is not just a coaching search. It is closer to a full reset behind the scenes.

On the roster side, changes could be coming there, too.

Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron recently broke down New Orleans’ offseason outlook and pointed to the frontcourt as an area in need of attention. He also suggested the team may want to take a longer view, potentially reshaping the roster around younger pieces like Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears.

If that route is taken, it could mean veteran names entering the trade market this summer.

Put it all together, and the Pelicans are not just looking for a coach. They are evaluating just about everything.