Pelicans fire GM amid Davis fallout
NEW ORLEANS—The Pelicans have decided to fire ninth-year general manager Dell Demps and start the process of finding someone to deal with the fallout of All-Star Anthony Davis’ recent trade demand, said a person familiar with the situation said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Friday because the club had not announced the decision. Demps did not immediately return messages.
Demps’ firing comes after Davis said in late January that he would not sign an extension with New Orleans and wants to be traded to a contending team. Davis has another season remaining on his contract after this one and this season’s trade deadline has passed, meaning no trade will happen until summer.
If hired soon enough, the new general manager also would oversee the upcoming draft and decide the future of coach Alvin Gentry, who for now is being retained. The Pelicans enter this season’s All-Star break at 26-33 and unlikely to make the Western Conference playoff field this season.
New Orleans hired Demps in large part because of his front office and scouting experience with San Antonio, widely seen as the model for contending in a small market.
Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been saddled by salary cap burdens resulting from free-agent signings that didn’t pan out.