New Orleans Pelicans: Top 5 replacements for Dell Demps as general manager
Mike Zarren
The current Assistant General Manager of the Boston Celtics, Mike Zarren, is a name that’s already being linked to this new opening with the Pelicans.
Two names to quickly emerge in league circles as likely targets in the Pelicans’ GM search — albeit two candidates who have both been selective in the extreme in considering offers — are former Cavs and Suns GM David Griffin and longtime Celtics executive Mike Zarren
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 15, 2019
Zarren has had interest from many other teams in recent years, including the Philadelphia 76ers when they were hiring in 2013. He’s known for being a lifelong, diehard Celtics fan, so having a front office job with Boston might be a situation too perfect for him to walk away from. Still, working directly next to noted asset-hoarding mastermind Danny Ainge has surely set Zarren up for success in a GM role if he chooses to step into one.
He’s a brainy dude with degrees from Harvard and the University of Chicago, but opted to start with the Celtics as an unpaid intern and worked his way all the way up to Assistant GM internally thanks to his great knowledge of the salary cap and prowess for business.
Drawing Zarren away from Boston could be a challenge, but it also could serve another benefit in paving the way for great relations between the Celtics and Pelicans this offseason as the two teams will surely engage in Anthony Davis trade talks.