New Orleans Pelicans Must HIRE Big-Name Coach Like Michael Malone and Ditch “Safe” Picks for Zion

New Orleans Pelicans urged to chase a marquee head coach as franchise identity hangs in the balance. Will ownership finally signal real investment, or will they stick with the safe, expected pick in James Borrego?

Jake Madison pinpoints why landing a proven winner like Mike Malone, Mike Budenholzer, or Frank Vogel would jolt the Pelicans’ reputation, restore fan confidence, and shift the NBA’s perception of New Orleans. The conversation examines why first-time or recycled coaches like Darvin Ham and Kevin Ollie might spell disaster, especially given the team’s current roster holes and front-office direction under Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver. Plus, hear about the Birmingham Squadron’s relocation to Kenner, rebranding as the Lake Town Squadron, and what this means for player development and the Pelicans’ future. Should New Orleans pay up for an elite coach, or play it safe yet again?

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9 comments

  8. 2 Issues. What coach wants to take on this job? No matter if you’re looking from the inside out, outside in, upside down, it’s a dumpster fire. No credible coach has this job circled on their board.

    2, Gayle Benson doesn’t pay coaches. On the Pelicans or Saints!

    So let’s say we up the spending budget.. I fear we overpay for someone who is more “experienced” than Borrego, but has no real history of winning or culture changing.

    How do we even trust this front office of making critical decisions, when the decisions they’ve made starting their new job made us WORSE than what we were before? If we simply fired Willie Green and made no off season moves, we’d have more wins than what we do now.. Now, we have an interim coach, a below 30 win season, we don’t own our own first round pick, Jordan Poole is the 2nd highest paid player on our team, a complete negative asset. Derik Queen is as lethargic as it gets. Zion is 7 years in and still can’t finish with his right hand, let alone extend his range from 2 feet away from the basket.

    This organization is a disaster. As a Pelicans fan, how can I trust this front office??

  9. I love you Jake, but you have wild mood swings. Weren't you just saying in very recent shows that Borrego should be the guy? Let's let it play out.

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