New Orleans Pelicans: Draft Lottery roundtable

Question three: Considering the Pelicans have still yet to make an official decision regarding the status of GM Dell Demps, who do you think is calling the shots as far as the team’s draft board and trade options are concerned? (Hint: please don’t say Mickey Loomis)

Stone: This is a tough question, mostly because it would mean someone actually knows what’s going on. Which, in all honesty, can be tough to believe. Dell Demps might be the one that it looks like is controlling the decisions. He went to the Draft Combine with Alvin Gentry to scout out players. He’s at the NBA Draft Lottery to represent the team in the Lottery Room. However, he still does not know if he’s going to keep his job in time to make that pick. While Demps is the guy that it appears is calling the shots, it’s not a lock. That in itself is beyond scary this close to the NBA Draft.

Kleen: My man Mickey probably has more say than any of us would like to admit, especially now that the NFL truly is in its slow season and he’s thoroughly set that team up for failure (say hi to Coby Fleener for the next five years, New Orleanians!). However, upside-based personnel management has historically been a strength of this front office. While the team hasn’t had a draft pick in a while, I somehow DO trust the core thinkers of Demps, Loomis and Gentry in the draft room.

Ellis:  Is it sad to miss the ownership days of David Stern?  The truth is no one in New Orleans has any clue what’s going on in that front office, but it appears Dell is still extremely active in the drafting process, and I imagine Loomis is with him every step of the way.  With that being said, I think, on draft day, Demps will get the final call, and I think his job will depend on the card he sends in and how quickly they can develop said player.  It doesn’t seem like Tommy Benson plans on waiting around too long for player development.  

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Callais: I personally think Loomis’ role is often exaggerated in the press and that he acts more as Benson’s proxy than as someone micromanaging Demps. I think Gentry probably has far more input than we know, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Gentry ended up having more influence than Monty ever did (requisite washed-up veteran “Monty guy” aside). Injuries obviously derailed the team in 2015-16, but I think Gentry’s system requires a specific skill set that our roster did not match. I expect that will be remedied this offseason, beginning with the draft.

LaRocca: Eh, I still think Dell Demps is the one making the decsions in terms of draft day procedure. I am with Rory that the influence of Alvin Gentry will be all over this draft but to me it is more likely that Dell and Alvin are working in unison on who will fit best. At this point it is looking like the Pelicans will not address Dell Demps job security and he may very well get fired but I do not think their is a realsitc option where Dell is not calling the shots currently. If that were the case the Pelicans may as well have fired him already or Dell would likely see the writing on the wall and resign.

Heck: SlenderPierre, naturally.

In all seriousness, my assumption would be that Demps, with a heaping of input from Gentry, is ultimately calling the shots, regardless of how short his leash is. Mickey Loomis can’t be that delusional to actually believe he can evaluate NBA talent, right?

Next: Second round