The New Orleans Pelicans fired coach Alvin Gentry, sources told ESPN on Saturday morning.
After a disappointing performance in the NBA Orlando startup, the franchise moved quickly to remove Gentry. Gentry had one year left on his contract.
The Pelicans move to the coaching market with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls.
This will be an opportunity for Executive VP David Griffin to use the Pelicans’ talented young roster – including no. 1 general pick Zion Williamson and All-Star Brandon Ingram – as cornerstones for being aggressive in the coaching market.
Among those coaches expected to be part of the Pelicans’ search: Lakers assistant Jason Kidd, Clippers assistant Ty Lue and former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, sources said. The Pelicans are also expected to take an interest in Brooklyn interim coach Jacque Vaughn if the Nets decide not to retain him, sources said.
Griffin (GM) and Lue (head coach) teamed up with the Cleveland Cavaliers when the franchise won an NBA title in 2016. Griffin has history with Kidd back to her days with the Phoenix Suns.
Pelican GM Trajan Langdon was the assistant GM with Brooklyn during Atkinson’s successful tenure.
New Orleans hired Gentry in 2015 from Golden State coaching staff, fresh from an NBA championship.
In Gentry’s five seasons, the Pelicans went 175-225, though often infested with injuries. Gentry was forced to use a combined 140 starting lineup in five seasons. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, that’s the most of any team in the past five seasons and 11 more than the next-closest team (Dallas).
In the first season of Gentry, he used 42 starting lineups – most in one season in the past five years according to Elias.
The 175 wins place Gentry second-all-time in Hornets / Pelicans franchise history, surpassing only Byron Scott. Gentry also leaves as the only coach in franchise history to have a winning record (5-4) in the playoffs.
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