5 teams who should be calling Mike D’Antoni right now
4. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans are looking to replace Alvin Gentry after a generally disappointing run with him as coach. Since VP of basketball operations David Griffin worked for the Phoenix Suns when ‘D’Antoni was the coach there, there’s an easy tie. But Sam Amick of The Athletic immediately suggested D’Antoni is not a serious candidate in New Orleans.
So as can be the case, as sides of the story will try to control a narrative in order to keep secrets or prop up someone else, there are conflicting reports regarding the idea of D’Antoni to the Pelicans.
No surprise here that Mike D’Antoni isn’t going back to Houston. There have been rumblings for weeks that he could be headed to the Pelicans. https://t.co/dddzH7Ev0V
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) September 13, 2020
The fast-paced system D’Antoni has generally fostered seems like a good fit for the pieces the Pelicans have (Lonzo Ball, Zion Williamson, Jrue Holiday, Jaxson Hayes, Josh Hart). Perimeter shooting this side of J.J. Redick would be a thing though, as D’Antoni’s Rockets’ teams helped set the current league-wide curve toward 3-point shooting. But it is an intriguing fit, and D’Antoni has credibility and a resume that Gentry doesn’t.
D’Antoni may turn down an interview with the Pelicans, as they aren’t very close to title contention. But a coaching search that doesn’t now include him is not a credible coaching search, and Griffin has to know it.