David Griffin’s New Orleans Pelicans Project: Reactions and Expectations
The Pelicans have cycled through two stars now, and Griffin has cycled through two teams.
There is a growth between high school sweetheart, first college fling, and then landing on the eventual hubby or wife for life. Griffin and the Pelicans are finally at their respective stages where they were seeking each other, and it’s the right time for both.
Working with GM Steve Kerr in Phoenix, Griffin inherited the end of the “Seven Seconds or Less” Suns. When Mike D’Antoni left for New York, Terry Porter was the initial hire. However, he was soon canned in favor of a young Alvin Gentry. Griffin worked to acquire young talent like Brook Lopez (draft) and Goran Dragic (draft day trade) while also working with older versions of Shaq and Grant Hill to fill out the roster.
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The seven years in Cleveland could raise questions about his draft scouting. As a VP, he must take partial blame for the Cavs drafting Anthony Bennett in 2013. As General Manager, Griffin drafted Andrew Wiggins in 2014. Of course, Wiggins was traded for “third star” Kevin Love. Griffin’s Plans A-K were shot to pieces once Plan “Get LeBron Home” became the NBA’s new reality.
The contracts James forced Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to give his friends should not detract from the trades that acquired those talented friends to begin with. Gilbert had to finesse trade parameters while LeBron demanded aggressively, ignoring the luxury tax implications of retaining J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert, and Channing Frye.
Smith and Shumpert were had for second round picks essentially. Kyle Korver helped win a playoff game or two. There is a shrewd nature to Griffin’s roster work when he is in a bind. In this report, Griffin was in pursuit of Jimmy Butler despite the Cavs’ cap restrictions. That report also notes that Cleveland players loved him.