The Pelicans yesterday fired coach Monty Williams after a 45-37 record and a first-round exit in the NBA Playoffs, but GM Dell Demps "denied there was a power struggle behind the scenes," according to a front-page piece by John Reid of the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE. Demps said that Williams' dismissal "was best for the organization going forward." Demps: "This was an organizational and ownership decision. This is about the future. We thought this was the best decision for the organization at this time." He added, "This is not so much about what he did or what didn't do. This is about what we felt like is best for us moving forward." Reid notes Demps "was not in the meeting" when Pelicans Exec VP & GM Mickey Loomis "informed Williams of his termination" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/13). In Baton Rouge, Darrell Williams notes Loomis "echoed Demps in saying it was an organizational decision, that a recommendation was made and the final decision was left to owner Tom Benson." Loomis said that the new coach "will report to Demps," who in turn "still will report to him." Loomis said Demps "does all the heavy lifting." Loomis added that he is "not an NBA expert and that his job has been more of mentoring a first-time general manager and coach." He said that the type of coach the Pelicans will hire and timetable for which they will do so "will be left up to Demps." Williams notes Univ. of Kentucky men's basketball coach John Calipari, who "guided Pelicans standouts Anthony Davis and Tyreke Evans in college, is believed to be in the mix." Demps said that he "doesn’t have a short list or timetable" (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 5/13). Meanwhile, in Lexington, John Clay reports UK and Calipari are "close to extending" his current contract (LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER, 5/13).
DIFFERENT PAGES: In New Orleans, Jimmy Smith notes there has been an "obvious disconnect between Williams and Demps from almost the moment Demps arrived" in July '10, "about a month after Williams was hired as head coach." How Demps' "decidedly imperfect" philosophy of "trading draft picks for young, more established talent ... might mesh with a new coach, whom Demps will hire, is open for debate." The anxiety "surrounding a hire of such importance is therefore exacerbated by Demps' spotty track record in major transactions." Smith: "You have to wonder about who's calling the shots when it's possible that the team's superstar, Davis, could have read the news of his coach's departure on Twitter before hearing it from someone in the organization" (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/13). In Baton Rouge, Ted Lewis notes conflicts "are inevitable" when you have two young men (Williams was 38 in '10, Demps 40) in positions of authority for the first time. Loomis, "not wanting to be distracted" from his role as Saints Exec VP & GM "more than he had been in the past few months, came down on Demps’ side after Williams reportedly was ready to force the matter" yesterday morning (Baton Rouge ADVOCATE, 5/13). Meanwhile, Loomis confirmed that Demps' contract "extends beyond this year, but he declined to provide any further details." Loomis: "I don't talk about player or employee contracts. But I can tell you that Dell has more than this year on his contract." The TIMES-PICAYUNE's Reid notes Demps and Williams both "received contract extensions" in '12, but Williams' extension "was reportedly a year longer than Demps' and set to expire" after the '16-17 NBA season (New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE, 5/13).
