 |
Dumars met with Pelicans officials
at several Saints road games |
The Pelicans yesterday "laid to rest, at least for now, speculation" that Louisiana native and Pro Basketball HOFer Joe Dumars "would be taking over as head of basketball operations," according to Ted Lewis of the Baton Rouge ADVOCATE. Pelicans Senior VP/Communications & Broadcasting Greg Bensel in a statement said, "No job offer or position has been discussed with Joe regarding the Pelicans." Lewis notes the statement "apparently means the team’s structure would remain the same" with Exec VP & GM Mickey Loomis, who "in the past has said that his basketball role was 'greatly overstated,' overseeing" GM Dell Demps and coach Monty Williams. A source said Demps and Williams are "going to stay with the guys they have," but added the relationship "is strained" (
Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 5/7). In New Orleans, John Reid cites a source as saying that Pelicans front-office officials, including Loomis, met Dumars "at several Saints road games" during the season to "gauge Dumars' opinion of the Pelicans." Dumars "has close ties to Pelicans officials and is a longtime friend of Loomis and Saints coach Sean Payton." Demps "is a lame duck," as his contract "expires this summer and the team has an option for next season." The Pelicans "have not indicated if they are going to offer a new deal." Demps "has not been made available to media for a while" and "has not made any public comments since April 16" (
NOLA.com, 5/6).
