That escalated relatively quickly. A week after failing to pull off an Anthony Davis trade, the New Orleans Pelicans have fired longtime general manager Dell Demps.
New Orleans has parted ways with GM Dell Demps, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 15, 2019
With the Pelicans as their general manager since 2010, Demps failed to provide the team a solid supporting cast to go alongside Davis over the past several years. More so than the entire trade situation surrounding Davis, that played a role in Demps’ departure from the Bayou.
People will talk about how this impacts a potential Davis trade come summertime. But in reality, the move was a long time in the making.
In addition to struggling in free agency and via trades, Demps really didn’t do a whole lot in the draft. Only one player (Davis) Demps drafted during his tenure remains with the Pelicans. That’s certainly not the way to build a team.
The Pelicans recognized that and moved on from him Friday.