The New Orleans Pelicans have parted ways with executive vice president David Griffin after a disappointing tenure that spanned six seasons. Under his leadership, the team recorded a 209-263 win-loss record and made two playoff appearances. A significant aspect of Griffin's time with the Pelicans was the 2019 trade of star player Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers, which brought in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart, along with three first-round draft picks, including the coveted No. 1 overall pick used to select Zion Williamson.

However, Williamson's time on the court has been plagued by injuries, with him participating in only 45% of games since being drafted and missing both playoff opportunities. This season, the Pelicans finished with a dismal 21-61 record, marking the fourth-worst in the league. Key injuries to players such as Dejounte Murray, Ingram, and Williamson severely hampered the team's performance, leading to a rocky start and eventual season shutdown for CJ McCollum.