Pelicans GM: We want a coach 'who can take us to the next level'
Pelicans general manager Dell Demps is now heading up the search to find the team's next coach, after New Orleans parted ways with Monty Williams earlier this week.
The team isn't laying out a time frame for the search, and the decision on whom to hire will be decided upon by the Pelicans organization, not just by Demps.
"We're going to find a coach who is good for us," Demps said. "Hopefully we can find someone who can take us to the next level."
New Orleans made the playoffs this season, but dropped four straight games to the Golden State Warriors. Now, Demps is focused on identifying candidates that can answer certain questions.
"How can we build? How can we grow? How can we keep improving?" Demps said. "Our goal is sustained success. We want to continue building and growing. We want to get to the point where we can compete for championships."
New Orleans is certainly a more attractive opportunity now, than last time the team needed a new coach. In 2010, the NBA owned the team and questions were swirling about the next owner, a possible relocation and whether the Crescent City could support two professional sports franchises.
In 2012, the owner of the New Orleans Saints, Tom Benson, purchased the team for $338 million. Since then, the ownership has embarked on a campaign to upgrade everything from the roster to facilities.
"Things are very stable right now," Demps said. "The Benson ownership has been great. You look at our practice facility and look at the improvements in the Smoothie King Center. The attendance in the playoffs was unbelievable. I think we're moving in the right direction."
Although the team has a few big decisions to make such as whether to re-sign starting center Omer Asik, the roster is young and talented, with All Stars like Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.
"I feel like we have a good core, obviously centered around AD," Demps said. "I think we have some good players on this team. Our goal is to keep going in the right direction."
Whoever the team hires as its next coach will decide whether to retain New Orleans' current assistant coaches.
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