Pelicans’ Slow Start Intensifies Scrutiny on Willie Green as Ownership Defers Future to Joe Dumars

The New Orleans Pelicans entered the season aiming to return to playoff contention, but through the first few weeks, they have instead become one of the league’s biggest disappointments. With a 2–9 record, the team has struggled on both ends of the floor and has yet to find the consistency needed to compete in a deep Western Conference. What was supposed to be a rebound campaign has quickly shifted into a troubling early-season slide.

These struggles have prompted a familiar question among fans: how secure is head coach Willie Green’s position? The Pelicans have retained faith in Green through previous ups and downs, but this year’s woes have amplified internal and external pressure. For a franchise that believed its core was ready to take the next step, the regression has been jarring.

This week, owner Gayle Benson addressed the speculation directly, offering clarity about who holds decision-making power regarding Green’s future. Her comments underscored both her personal support for Green and her reliance on a newly central figure in the organization.

As New Orleans attempts to salvage its season, the dynamics surrounding leadership, personnel choices, and long-term planning have become key storylines for a team that hoped not to revisit these familiar crossroads.

1. Leadership Oversight Shifts to Joe Dumars

During a recent interview, Benson emphasized that evaluating Green and the team’s overall direction falls largely to Joe Dumars, whom she hired to oversee basketball operations. She described Dumars’ role as comprehensive, noting that he is actively assessing not only the coaching staff but also the players. Their extended halftime discussion during Wednesday’s loss to Portland illustrated his hands-on involvement. Benson expressed strong trust in Dumars’ judgment, citing his long-standing relationship with Green and his experience evaluating talent and culture. Her remarks made clear that while she admires Green personally, the ultimate decision about his future will be Dumars’ to make. This shift signals a more formal, possibly more urgent review process behind the scenes. Dumars’ presence introduces a new structural layer to the Pelicans’ decision-making hierarchy, one that could lead to significant changes if the team’s performance does not improve quickly. As internal evaluation continues, the uncertainty surrounding Green’s job adds pressure to a locker room already dealing with mounting losses and the growing need for stability.

2. A Troubling Start Compounded by Costly Draft Consequences

The Pelicans’ slow start would be alarming on its own, but it is made worse by larger strategic implications. At 2–9, New Orleans has underperformed despite entering the season with renewed optimism and a healthy core. Yet injuries, including early concerns surrounding Zion Williamson, have again disrupted the team’s rhythm. What magnifies the predicament is the franchise’s lack of control over its 2026 first-round pick — a consequence of a draft-night trade with the Atlanta Hawks made to move up and select Derik Queen. The decision was criticized by some at the time, and the team’s poor start has only intensified questions about whether the risk was worthwhile. Without control of their pick, the Pelicans cannot benefit from a potentially high lottery position in what is widely projected as a strong draft class. That reality increases the urgency for the current roster to improve, as there is no draft-based safety net for a down year. While the front office believed Queen was worth the investment, the stakes of that gamble have sharply risen as losses pile up.

3. Derik Queen’s Early Promise and the Road Ahead

If there is one positive storyline amid the team’s struggles, it is the early development of Derik Queen. The rookie big man has begun to show encouraging flashes, offering a glimpse of the upside that initially inspired New Orleans to move up for him. His growth has been one of the few consistent bright spots in an otherwise rocky start. Still, given the cost of acquiring him, Queen will need to evolve into a true cornerstone player to justify surrendering a potentially high-value pick. His progression will be closely watched as the organization evaluates its longer-term direction and roster construction strategy. In the meantime, the Pelicans face immediate challenges on the court. The team must establish greater cohesion, stabilize its rotations, and find solutions to recurring defensive issues if it hopes to recover. Every game from here forward carries added weight — both for the standings and for the futures of those leading the franchise. New Orleans will attempt to stop the slide Friday night when it hosts the Los Angeles Lakers, beginning a stretch that may determine whether changes become inevitable.