Pelicans: 2 internal coaching replacements for Stan Van Gundy

New Orleans Pelicans: Is it time for Fred Vinson to be a head coach?

Another internal option whose name has been popping up is Fred Vinson, who has been with the Pelicans since 2010.

Vinson has mostly been a shooting coach in that time and has a reputation for helping several players in that area, most notably Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, who have both improved their shooting immensely and given Vinson credit.

Vinson, like Weatherspoon, already has a familiar and good working relationship with the key players, and also like T Spoon, he’s a younger, black candidate looking to get his first shot in the NBA, something that will resonate with players who are looking for a more relatable coach.

Vinson would also represent some amount of continuity, as he has been with the Pelicans through the last three head coaches and has somehow managed to keep his job, which means he must be doing something right.

The New Orleans Pelicans and David Griffin are starting to look like they don’t know what they are doing, which is a bad look for small-market team trying to retain a generational superstar for the long term.

Promoting one of Weatherspoon or Vinson to the head coaching job is one way to start fresh without completely starting over, as they are already well-liked and respected by the players.

David Griffin has to get this one right because he’s not going to be able to blame another coach if his team does not get back to the playoffs next season and it will be him looking for a new job.