Report: Joe Dumars expected to become Pelicans’ new head of basketball operations

NBA Hall of Famer and current league executive Joe Dumars is a “serious frontrunner” for the New Orleans Pelicans’ vacant head of basketball operations position, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

The Pelicans fired executive vice president David Griffin after six seasons on Monday.

Per Charania, Dumars and the Pelicans are working toward finalizing a contract to be completed by the end of the week. So barring any hiccups, it appears the Pelicans may have already found their man.

Meanwhile, coach Willie Green is facing an uncertain future himself after four seasons at the helm. While New Orleans reportedly will retain him for now, it will be up to the new executive to determine whether Green returns for next season.

Green is just 148-179 in four seasons combined with the Pelicans, though they have reached the playoffs twice. They failed to get out of the first round either time. New Orleans went just 21-61 this season after a slew of major injuries to key rotational players.

“I haven’t had any discussions, any talks yet,” Green told reporters prior to Griffin’s dismissal. “I didn’t do great great. I have to take full ownership of where we are as a team. We failed. I failed.”

Dumars’ official title with the league is executive vice president and head of basketball operations. He served as general manager of the Detroit Pistons — the team with which he spent his entire playing career — from 2000-14. Detroit won the championship in 2004 (as well as when Dumars played with the old “Bad Boys” teams in 1989 and 1990).

He also served briefly in the Sacramento Kings’ front office.

The news makes you think the Pelicans already had Dumars in mind before even firing Griffin.

“This was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is necessary at this time to bring a fresh approach to our front office and build a culture that will deliver sustainable success, on and off the court,” Pelicans owner Gayle Benson said in a statement. “I am committed to hiring the right person to lead our basketball operations department and deliver an NBA Championship to our city. That is what our fans deserve.”