Pelicans Coaching Search Heats Up | Rondo, Borrego, Hetzel & What the NBA Playoffs Reveal

Welcome back to NewOrleans.Basketball, your go-to source for New Orleans Pelicans news, coaching updates, and NBA analysis.

Hosted by Raphael Rattler and Garrick “G-Money” Rattler, we break down the latest Pelicans coaching search, key candidates, and what the 2026 NBA Playoffs are teaching teams like New Orleans.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:03

Hey, Venor, you know, um, what up, what up, what up? Welcome to another episode of New Orleans Dive Basketball. I am your host, Raphael Rattler, drawn by my fellow middle brothers, Jerry Money Ratler. What's poppin' with you, bro? What up, what up, what up, bro? Everything's all good on this side, man. Enjoying this weather right now is pretty pretty decent. It's not too steamy, like it's about to get, like you know it's coming. Um, first of all, man, uh, just want to give a you know a shout out and uh thinking about all the people dealing with that crazy weather in Texas around your area. Um, I know you know we got a lot of people in Texas that listen to us, and a lot of people in our family in Texas and things, so um, everybody's dealing with that, man. I I'm you know, well wishes, and you know, and hopefully everybody's okay, and you know, you replace uh property, can't replace lives. So hopefully everybody's okay with with that. Um, outside of that, bro, man, the the jazz fest is rolling around the city, man. Let me tell you, as a lifelong resident of New Orleans and a person who uh frequented the the the the jazz fest a lot when I was younger and a lot of role when my mom was around. Um, and not so much now. I love the the festivities, I love the the the people, I love the camaraderie, I love the spirit, I love the acts. Hate the traffic, bro. Hate the traffic, bro. It is it is it is mind-numbing. It's like everybody's first day ever driving ever uh is during the the jazz fest, and uh you know, and everybody's trying to get to one specific area, so like every rich route going to that area is packed, it's just crazy. But you know, shout out to everybody that's enjoying themselves uh in the city, man, for for Jazz Fest. Wonderful feeling, man. Wonderful, wonderful time of the year, and uh yeah, man. The W, man. The playoffs, obviously, the NBA playoffs are going on. The W uh is is is starting off, man. This is this is good time for me because it's it's high level playoff basketball in the in the NBA. Um yeah, let me tell you there are certain games that are are high level, right? They got some rock fights in there, but there are some there's I think people have forgotten that this is basketball and not MMA, and I think you know those lines are being blurred. Uh, we're gonna get into what we thought was gonna be what like things we were gonna see coming into this playoffs, which some have come to fruition, some have not. Um, and and we'll talk about that, but uh, but yeah, man, of the uh the playoffs are going, the WNBA is starting, man. So I'm enjoying this kind of resurgence of of what should be good basketball, let's say higher stakes basketball. Um, and obviously the W coming back. So this is this is a good time, good hoops for me, man. How's everything on your side? Everything is blessed to your point. Um, I don't know about you, but I think we're almost to that point where it's already steaming. We had basketball practice outside, my son and his teammates, and like I started feeling the the the sun's thing. I was like, okay, we're at that time, we're at that time of year. I will I will tell you like this you you are you are in you know in in a in a city of Texas, this great out. I'm in New Orleans. Let me tell you something, Raf. It's it might be 84. I've been here when it feels like 115 outside. All right, so we it's hot, but it ain't as hot as it's gonna get. You're absolutely right. But other than that, you're right. Um, finally you get the W back in the swing of things, you get the playoffs, and kind of seeing things play it out, and you're kind of seeing, okay, what would that guy look like in a Pelicans uniform? What would it take? And you're kind of going through some of these things in your head. Um, so things are starting to get interesting, you're starting to see some of the teams crumble, you're starting to see some of the teams step up um in different and situations and just like that. And before we get too into that and what's going on with the Pelicans, because again, even though the Pelicans are at the bottom, they don't have a draft pick, never boring, always on the top of the headlines for some reason. Make sure you guys are locked in with us on NOB. That's NO underscore basketball. No E. Make sure you're liking the episode. Make sure you're subscribed to the channel. So, yes, we are in playoff time, um, which also means we are at that time of the season with the teams that didn't make the playoffs are looking for their next coach, are preparing for the draft, are talking around the league and things like that. And so, naturally, the Pelicans are one of many coaching jobs, and probably a couple more to come as the as the round one closes up here shortly. Um, but they have been in the news as of late. So let's just let's just jump into it. You've heard some of the names, you've heard the Dar Darwin Hann, you've heard the Jamal Mosley, which right now he looks like the magic on the good spot. How much can change in a week, bro? Right, right, right. You've heard some of these names, but there's a name in particular that was surfaced this week, and the reason why the name is interesting because it's a household name, it's a very popular name. Uh, it's a name that everyone has seen their basketball mind take shape, and you could always say, Well, that guy might be a good coach, but it also happens to be a name that was mentioned on this podcast weeks and weeks and weeks ago. So, Rajon Rondo, he's been an associate coach and he's been a guest coach for the Bucks the last couple season, but not like an official coach yet, so no coaching experience, but you're seeing this around the league. JJ Raddock's the latest example. You saw the Steve Nash, you've seen this happen over the course of time in the NBA. Let's jump into it. Rajon Rondo was linked to the Pelicans and rumored to have already interviewed with them, even though he is not, you know, of head coaching uh experience. What are your thoughts on that? Obviously, that's a name that you brought up, a name that's interest you and thought might be a good fit, even though he had just a small time here. What are your thoughts on Rajon Rondo potentially being the next coach of the Pelicans? Yeah, I think listen, it is it is an exciting name to hear that you know that the Pelicans actually consider and brought in for an interview. Um, I just think that it it shows uh you know where the mindset of you know basketball head coaches should be uh at this point in time, right? You you you obviously talk about all of the names that have been recycled and names that have been places and um and whether they've been players before or not players before. Um, I think nowadays you need to have more than anything, especially with the game getting a lot, you know. We talk about you know how like the older guys are leaving, like you talk about Steph and LeBron, like a lot of these players are are coming in younger and younger, and as the as the the talent level goes and as the the the game expands, and we already talked about expansion teams and things, you're gonna have like more turnover and rosters on a year-to-year basis, and it's gonna be because there's got there's gonna be a lot of guys that are gonna be nipping at the bud to come in the next year and the next year. So as the game gets younger, you gotta have guys that are able to connect um with your guys, um, you know, both on the floor and off the floor, uh, whether they're former players or not. But I think when you talk about a guy like Rajan Rondo, um, and just the stories you hear from NBA players, coaches, um, you know, hall of fame coaches who who talk about this guy's basketball mind, um, I think you know, it's it speaks to itself. I mean, you talk about uh wanting to wanting to emulate yourself after organizations. I mean, who better than you know what we talked about with the other than the Boston Celtics, who Brad Stevens himself said that he had to bring Rajon Rondo onto his staff because of the experience, uh, you know, the on the floor experience, because of you know, the the stories and the camaraderie that players talk about, uh, and the reverence that that they uh they talk about him and just the the way he commands a room. Um, if Brad Stevens is is is telling you that this is a guy who needs to be brought on, that probably is a a good indication that's that's a good coach. Uh, if you think about all the guys who have came from the Celtics organization as far as coaching and things like that. And so um, I listen, when when I saw, you know, obviously we spoke about him last week, but we brought him up a couple of weeks, uh uh couple months ago, actually. But you know, obviously we talked about him last week. I this is what I was, you know, what I was thinking. This is what the all the things that that would make you think that he's a good coach. Sometimes you don't need to overthink it, right? A guy who could know the game, who can command respect of the locker room. And the thing that I'm excited would be most excited about um is his ability to have other guys who have the same kind of similar, um, you know, the same kind of similar mindset or same kind of scamp kind of build to come in and be a part of a potential staff or be around the team. Um, is that I I think about you know, Rondo coaching up with Jeremiah Fears or being around DeJounte Murray and having that kind of relationship going. Is imagine like that's the two guards that Jeremiah Fears is in the room with. Um, or if like he could come in and and bring guys off his staff who could take Zion under his wing or take Derek Queen under his wing. Uh like if he could get the boogie cousins to come uh with him to come talk around, talk up uh uh uh Derrick Queen. So I just think that there's a lot to like. Obviously, you know, he he has to interview like everyone else. Um, and obviously there are other good candidates as well that which we'll talk about. Um, but I've you know, for obvious reasons, the things that you would think that make Raj Rajan Rondo a good coach are probably the reason why he would be uh a good coach. And again, I don't think he'd be like the the fixed all to this team, um, but you need to hit you need to nail this head coaching uh higher because you you've already you're already on what this would be four or five new coaches for Zion and you know and things like that. You you don't want to be the Sacramento Kings where you're just turning over coaches year after year after year after year, like you want to have some kind of run with a with an established coach, so you want to nail this. Um, and I think that Rajar Rondo is a guy that will you wouldn't obviously you wouldn't want to have him uh you know and and and and uh have him be a guy who could be the first time he's coaching, this is the team that he would be coaching. Um, but like instead of these recycled coaches, bro, like if you're if it's between that and giving a guy a shot, then I think Rajon Rondo is the kind of guy you you'd be okay sticking that claim to. Yeah, I mean, I look at it like this, right? Like, you know, all due respect to James Barrego. I think you've seen both in Charlotte and you know, again, last season, unfair to him, unfair situation, but you've kind of seen what his imprint could be on a team, and like you saw some of the good things right away, right, when he took over and some things snap into place in terms of a system. But I would call him, and again, this is not an offensive thing, the safest pick. And what I mean by that is you've seen uh some some good traits take place, and you're you're interested to see what that would look like from a longer standpoint, a full offseason, a full plethora of roster, uh a better understanding of the players that you've already coached. The pluses and the pros in his column are you know, they already know him, he's been around the organization. Um, he's been a coach. He he has a lot of things that make it safe. At the very least, you know what you're getting with James, right? You know what the floor is. I think Rajan Rondo is the type of player that has that ceiling of a coach, right? Like we talked about the JJ Reddick hire last season, how it's very risky for the Lakers. Obviously, extremely risky for the Lakers that they get Luka and everything changes and stuff like that. But I think the reason why it was not as questioned out the gates is because you've seen JJ Reddick's basketball mind, you've seen him on podcast talking with LeBron about basketball, and instantly, and this again, this is accessible to anyone, right? Not just NBA insider, not just coaches, not just guys who played. You can see his brain in the works, right? And you've heard him speak the game. You're like, oh, that guy probably will be good with a clipboard, right? And obviously, he's done some phenomenal things. Look at the job he's done so far in round one, down two of his three best players and things like that. But I think it was easily acceptable in that scenario because it's like, okay, this is a scene. I feel kind of similar with Ronjan Rondo, right? Like, you haven't seen the head coaching experience, but you've seen his brain play out on the floor, you've seen his acumen and his his passion play out on the bench. You've seen you've seen these things if you've been an NBA watcher of any kind, and so I think you know, uh a lot of the buzz that's generalized around him, whether it's the Pelicans or one of the other teams looking for a head coach or things like that, is putting that to paper and putting that to your point with a NBA that's getting younger and younger at the moment, the farther you are from a coach and age as you are from the player, the harder it is to relate on the same timeline when they're talking about new music, you're like, Oh, we like the Beastie Boys back in my like it's just a different, different, it's just a different environment in a locker room. And I think a guy like Rondo, who's been a winner, but the way he won and the way that he was able to be in the league for 16 years kind of has all the pieces of it elements to a head coach, right? Like, obviously, you're the point guard of a team. Everyone wants to look at that or at that and say, well, Steve Nash was a point guard and it didn't really work out for him, and he had talent, things like that. But there's not just that, right? It's okay, you're a point guard of the team, you weren't a great shooter and things like that. So you had to find other ways to win, right? You had to find ways to to maximize what you do best, but also what the the people around you do best. But then you were also a multi-time all-star on the defensive end, right? And that's an area that the Pelicans have struggled with uh in the past, right? And I I don't know if this set of core or nucleus, and we've talked about this before. I don't know if this set of players is set out to be Oklahoma City and gonna be number one or two and number three in defense. I think they have to get better if they want to get better, but I think it's more about being opportunistic and using the athleticism that you have versus being defensive savants across the board because I think they're more offensive later player. I would argue that a lot of that was Rondo, too, right? Like a lot of his brilliance came on the offensive side of the floor and the way he was able to distribute and things like that, and his defense was opportunistic, getting in pass lanes and steals. And I think your team is gonna have to mirror that society. We talked so long during Willie Green's tenure about the team not really having an identity and the team getting punked at times and things like that. Well, ultimately, fair or not, by hook or by crook, a lot of times your identity is built off the coach that you have and what you what system and program and and what you're gonna be about as a team moving forward, whether that's an offensive identity, whether that's a share of the ball, everyone equal opportunity offense and system things like that. But that's genuine as that looks like. And so if you're looking at a guy who's got the resume, got the experience as far as a player, got the mind, you're just looking to see, okay, when you get put in that situation, what do you do? Now, to your point, this is a pivotal ass hire. Because if this don't work out, I'm not sure how many more seasons you have with Zion. Not because Zion wants to leave or things like that, but something is gonna be forced to change. And if you've changed the front office and you've changed the surrounding players and you've changed the round, the only thing left to change, right, would be your star power, right? It would be that that piece of things, and so making this work for the situation you're in with Zion, you know, right now and moving forward, or without, right? And building something that could be sustainable based off the players you had around them, I think fits what Raj on Rondo has always been, right? From that standpoint. So again, it's a big risk, but what have we talked about before, right? Like if you keep doing the same thing over and over again, hiring the same guys and expecting a different result to some degree, you're never going to disrupt the norm, you're always gonna end up in the same spots and things like that. And so I'd be all for it because I just think this franchise just needs something else, right? Just needs a and I think based off of the roster that they have and the personalities on the roster, you need a coach that's gonna match that. And I think if you do that, that's gonna fix everything not fix everything out, but it's gonna put everything else in play, right? When we talk about the pecking order of the first option, the second option, when you take one out, all of a sudden things get messed up. When you don't have a coach that's kind of driving the bus, I think that you take something out when you've got a young team that's trying to find itself and trying to build itself from that way. So I'm really interested in in the Raj Arondo situation, where that goes, whether it's with the Pelicans or with that's something else. Another name that you've heard, Steve Hetzel, right? He's been an assistant from the Nets, he's been around for Portland, he's been around for Orlando from some degree. What are your thoughts on that? This is a guy who's been around the league to to to to put it from, he's done the work, right? He he's he it's next up for him, right? He was he's the Willie Green, right? So to speak, from a few years ago of names that you hear around the league who might be next up for uh head coaching candidacy. What do you think that he could bring to the team? Yeah, well, listen, he's a he's a pop disciple, and you know, from the from the get-go, I think you know, anybody that has been attached to the Greg Popovich tree of coaching will always have a little shine and a little luster uh on them. But outside of that, I mean the guy has been you know at a bunch of different stops and is coached at a in a lot of different levels. Um, I think you know, similar to what we talked about with with Rayon Rondo um and his experience, and you know, we we talk about this a lot off the pod about you know coaches who are fan who might who might be fantastic like coordinators, um, but then can they take that next leap up? Because that next leap up as this is your shot, this is your you know, your show, your job, like your everything is is falling on you. Um, that's a step up. And again, with Rajan Rondo, you have that same, you know, that same question. Obviously, he he hasn't been around nowhere near as long as um as as Mr. Hetzel, but you know, I think that that you know him, his ability to have been around all of these different teams and have been around all of these different uh iterations of different franchises and been able to grab a lot of things um and and learn a lot of things and soak up a lot of things. I think that might you know might be well for a team that is looking to find its identity, and maybe you know, this is a guy that can come in and take a little bit from you know his years with with pop, you know, some years, uh some years with Doc, some some of these other uh times uh when he was with uh other teams and and kind of help this this franchise kind of steer itself, right? He would be similar to how some of these other, you know, under the radar candidates who are associate uh head coaches or assistant head coaches, um, and then you hire them, and maybe you know they they their name doesn't pop right then and there, like Mark Dagano, for example. Um, and then all of a sudden he has your team humming, and you guys have a you have uh an identity and you and you know how to play. That I think that's that's more of his uh that would be more of his route. Now, again, when you talk about Rondo and his step to the next level and taking that, I think a lot of with him would be like you say, his respect and his his ability and the things that he's gone through as a player and been on the floor and been a lot in a lot of locker rooms, that would help him propel, uh propel his, you know, his jump to the next level. Whereas uh, you know, Steve, I think he would be a guy that would have all of that, you know, all of the the the experience and been around all of those assets um and all those franchises and things that would help him propel to the next step. So they both would have things that would help them bring it to the next level. Um, I think he's a guy that that is very interesting. Um, he would be obviously Ronda would be at the top of this list that we've already talked to. I think we're about to mention another guy that I think would be a little bit more uh my speed for if we were talking about my coach. But again, Steve Hetzel is is uh is uh uh well respected, been around the game, been around a lot of uh different uh teams and a lot of franchise and a lot of uh other legendary coaches. So you can't, you know, that that's a guy that I wouldn't be upset if you went the more experienced route and wanted to bring in a guy who probably is has a higher floor uh than Rajon Rondo, right? And and I think you know you can't necessarily look at it based off risk because obviously you would look at Rajan Rondo and say that, oh, okay, well, he's the highest risk factor because no coaching experience. But I don't know if I necessarily agree with that. Just because you're an X and O's guy, that doesn't mean once you get in that seat where the decisions are just different, you know, from day to day, all of a sudden the X is O works out because you're dealing with personalities, you're different dealing with people. All of a sudden, you're not the assistant coach the player goes to. Are the guy they're mad at yeah? Michael Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest player of all time, and anything he has done outside of being on the court that's associated with basketball, whether it's G M and Cole, whatever, has not been the greatest. He does not have the greatest tribe like this. So, yes, X's and Ws do not mean instant success uh in the next level, exactly. And so, like to go to the the question that's in the chat like, do you see Rondo more of a as a like a JJ Redick type player than turn into coach or a Steve Nash? I mean, I would grab it, I don't know about success. Obviously, Jason JJ's had success in his short tenure so far, and Steve Nash did not, but part of that is due to circumstances and injuries and all that other stuff. But just based off like the fire, I would say JJ Redick because I think Rajan Rondo is more the type of coach to get in your face if you got in his face, versus Steve Nash is not really that kind of guy, and I think Steve Hetzel's probably a little bit like that too. I don't know if he's the necessarily the fiery guy that's gonna get back in your face and things like that. You haven't gotten to see those things play out, but I've seen Rajan Rondo on the court. I don't need to know. I just like I knew before JJ got into you know sweats or a suit or whatever it is, I knew he was gonna be fiery. I feel the same for Rondo, and honestly, I I gravitate to those type of coaches more than you know, the more resort versus Mark Daganov types of things. Uh Beppia said, We talked about that name, we've talked about the Darwin Ham because of the relationships. We talked about those things. What's up, Bird Talks? How you doing? Sean Sweeney, that's another name that you've heard around these talks. I've had a lot of exposure to him. He was with the Mavericks for forever, he's with the Spurs for some time. He's been a name that's been around the league for quite some time. Another one of those guys, those assistant guys. And again, you saw this work out with the Suns. Nobody just thought the Suns were gonna be good, getting a brand new coach, losing KD, things like that. Obviously, it's not looking good for them the round one, but nobody thought they would be there, right? And it's crazy what making a couple moves around the edges and and and getting a coach to put an identity in place does for organization. You're starting to see that play out where guys who you may not recognize the name starting to work out in some of these other places where you're kind of building from the ground up or you're building closer from the ground, uh up and things like that. What are your thoughts on a Sean Sweeney? Do you think that might be a good fit? A lot of time with you know the the the Spurs organization, too, seems like that's a common denominator here, uh, around Troy Reaver. Yeah, this this is the guy that I said uh you know would be second if we talked about these, you know, these three guys already, uh, between Rondo, uh Steve Hetzel, and Sean Sweeney. Sean Sweeney would be my second uh choice on the list. I I think uh he first of all, he is one of Luca's right hand men. And I think um, as as much as Luca's success, you know, and and as as great of a player that he is, um, he has attributed a lot of it to Sean Sweeney. Like he has talked about Sean Sweeney as being one of his guys. Um, and he was there was not a lot of love lost between the Mavericks uh and and Luca and Sean Sweeney and that little thing. So that was that was that. But um, I I just think so he's a defensive mastermind. He is the guy that orchestrated that that Dallas Mavericks defense, uh, that got them to the finals up against the Boston Celtics. Uh, when he had Luca and Kyrie. And I think uh when you talk about the Pelicans, um, you want to talk about a coach who can get try to get the most best defensively out of this team. You you know, you've talked about you know some of the guys on this team who have not been the greatest defenders, right? When you talk about Trey, who has had did not have a great defensive season this year. Derek Queen has had his defensive uh lapses this season. You talk about you know Jeremiah Fears, and obviously he's been a better defender, but he's gonna always be picked on defensively in things. Um, he did that same thing with Luca and Kyrie Irvin and those guys, and still was able to get a good enough deep uh defense with a couple of defenders around him, right? They had PJ Washington, Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively, very similar to Herb Jones and uh Eve Misi and guys like that. So, like he you have very similar type of things going on with with the team buildup. Um, and then he's a guy that is super good with player uh relationships. I mean, I think you know, him being as close to some of the stars and some of the guys uh that that talk well to him is is not just Luca Giannis and uh talks about him as well. Um, that's just a kind of guy you would want to have um, you know, have that kind of relationships to stars. Not saying that any of that would would ever play to get a guy here in New Orleans, um, but when you want to have like legitimacy and you want to have a guy that had is proven and he's proven on the side of the floor that has not been the best for the Pelicans since that since Willie Green, really since like last year teams, but you know, since Willie Green kind of tailed off his defense. Um, you know, you really haven't been able to replicate some of those defense uh high uh energy and high effort defensive teams uh that you used to have when you were when you were able to compete, uh, even with guys out and things like that. And so uh I think he's a he is a uh a well-respected coach. I think that is he would be a great choice for the Pelicans. Um, you know, if they if they went that route. Uh, and I just think that his defensive mindset and and the reputation that he has for defense, I think he is a uh the uh a player's coach that will demand out of players and players will respect him um because of his reputation across the league. So I'm I'm a I'm a Sean Sweeney guy. I think that he'd be a uh a good coach for the Pelicans. Um, again, he's second on the list of the of the three we've talked about so far. Uh, but I do I do like Sean Sweeney and what he could potentially do for this team, sure. And another interesting name that hasn't been a link to the Pelicans or not, but Billy Donovan, you know, walking away from the the Bulls going their separate ways. This is guy who showed he could win at the collegiate level, and obviously he's put some some good offices and good teams and made the most out of his situations in the NBA so far. I'd be interested in that situation with if there was any connection there. Obviously, Troy Weaver has connection to him from the first time he was hired around and things like so. There could be some dominoes there, but that would be another interesting name. All in all, though, I just like the process, Gary. It seems different than the process, you know, when Joe Dumas was hired, where it was like everyone knew Joe Dumas was gonna be the hire months in advance before David Griffin was fired. This seems more thought out and more let's go get the best guy, let's talk to everybody, let's go get a lot of different types of coaches, let's talk to them all, and let's see who wins us over. And that that that's all I was looking for. Go find the best candidate for the job. Yeah, listen, actions over words, like you know, like we always talk about, like the the who collective always talks about. And again, this this this coaching hire is very pivotal, it is super important for the team. And so, listen, you can go out and you can hire these guys, and you know, the Pelicans may they may very well have their guy and just put him out there and and get hired, and this is all just a smoke screen, uh, to be you know to to to get that kind of stench off of you of just going to your guys and going to the people that you know. Um, however, I I think to the fact that you are bringing guys in, um, and you're actually this isn't like one of those things where you know this guy's been attached to this guy, this guy's been attached, like they're interviewing some of these guys, and so you're at least doing the due diligence, the actual actions of getting on. I mean, Joe Dumar said in his his end of season presser that that relationships should not matter as far as this coaching search goes, and you know, it was it it it it some some people fell on deaf ears because you know this is just not how the team has operated um for a while now, right? They've just kind of built a bubble and built a trust and kind of gotten guys who are who are in that trust and in that bubble. But I think to have Rondo come in, who doesn't really have any kind of connections to anybody like that. Um, I think just to have guys come in and interview um kind of puts a little bit of credence and a little bit of legitimacy to what Joe Dumas was saying at the his end of the season pressing. Yeah, absolutely. So changes are gonna come. I will be fascinated when they do come because again, like to your point, like if you already knew your guy, yeah, you might kind of put it out there a little while, but like Darwin Ham's at the crib right now. So if you were gonna hire him, like why not just do it now, get a head start on the draft and stuff like that, things like that. I'm just curious to see the process play play out and who the the Pelicans teams I'm saying. That being said, head coaching is not the only change that has happened this offseason so far, and probably will have been moving forward. There has been major changes in the Pelicans organization, both with the media team, uh the equipment team, long time manager let go, uh, the coaching staff, a lot of assistants who've been here for years and years let go. Um, with all the talks around the Portland new ownership that has been around cutting cost and and you know reserving uh money, let's just call it that being cheap to some degree. What are your thoughts on that? Like, do you think you know this is part of Joe Dumar's making the organization what he wants it to be, or do you think it's more of how do we minimize some costs in some places until we start winning? Only a Sith, I okay, so the Portland stuff is wild, okay, just just absolutely wild. Um, I I respect him, the owner of the new ownership, for just like, hey, this is what it's doing, this is what's happening, and like if you just don't, you know, this is this is what's happening. Um and you know, Tiago Splitter has already talked about how like it's been stressful, right? Like it's been stressful, um, you know, because you don't you have masseuses who are not there anymore, and uh you have you have you know staff that you usually rely on that's not there, and it's just it's just insane. What up what up, everybody? Um, and so I I it it's it's just it sucks because you know this is a business, and like, you know, I know a good bit of the people um who are employed for the Pelicans, um, you know, and I I you know I never want to see people, you know, lose a job, right? And so, you know, I I think when you don't have success, right, you are going, you are going to change things, okay? And it is like a domino effect. Because if you knock down one domino, it's not just gonna stay right there, it's gonna go to the next domino, right? It's gonna affect the next domino. So you you know, you fire the the the coach, and then like well, you fire the front office guy, and then he needs to bring in new people, but then like those people have to replace new old people, and so like those people have to go, and then other people have to go underneath them, and so that's what happens, right? Now, the the big one that that you know everyone knows and talks about it is Big Shot. And listen, everybody knows Big Shot, everybody, you know, like from when I was at the Pelican Shop, way before I was at the Pelican shop until now, like Big Shot has been around, he has been around, and and I'm of the mindset that you you you didn't need to bring unnecessary attention to yourself by doing what you did in the manner that you did, but I'm also of the mindset that listen, if if changes are going to happen, you you and you understand that changes are gonna happen, then like changes happen, and like I this is what changes look like, and so if to what you talked about with the coaching search, if you just keep hiring the same coach or the same type of coach, or you just keep hiring the same type of medical staff, or you just keep pulling from the same trees, you you're never you're you're gonna always have a ceiling or a floor, but you're probably always gonna have a ceiling as well. And what big what what you know what big shot did, I mean, listen, he what fi firing him does not change anything on the the the floor, understandable, and you know, this goes for the assistant coaches too when I say this, but sometimes like the voice that needs to be heard across the the the organization doesn't just land at front office, it doesn't just land at you know the coaching, sometimes it's with assistant coaches, sometimes it's with equipment managers, sometimes it's with trainers, sometimes it's with masseuses, sometimes it's with you. You something you need to just rip rip it off and change. And so I do think Joe is going to bring in other people. I don't think this is just hey, we're we're just cutting these people, and that's gonna be it. Um, I think you're gonna need to start seeing people get hired before people really say, you know, are you really trying to save money here, or are you really trying to put a new fingerprint? Because again, if it's about breathing a new breath of life into this team, into this franchise, then I'm all for it. You know, bring in new people with different viewpoints and different mindframes and different trainings and different ways of attacking problems, experiences, yeah, right. But if this is just a cost-cutting move, um, then I think it is fair for everyone to take a step back and say, like, what are we doing here? Like, are we trying to be successful and be competitive? Because Tiago Splitter is in the playoff series fighting for his life, and he's talking about I'm I'm worried if you know the the masseuse who's working on my star player, Denny Abia, is even around if this person is like, how are you supposed to like focus on anything if that's the on the court, if that's what you're worrying about the night before a game, an hour before a game, before shoot around and things like that. And so if you are putting unnecessary pressure and on this on this franchise because you're downsizing the cut cost, then it's perfectly fair to for everyone to say, What the hell are we doing here? But if this is a we're trying to bring in a new breath of uh fresh air, and it's gonna hit some people that you love and that you've been around for a while. Um, then you know I I I sympathize and it sucks, and I wish it didn't have to happen, and I wish the business wasn't like this, but it is, and that's just the way it's gonna be. And like, if that's if you're bringing in new birth breath of fresh air to this this franchise, then I am all for it because the same things have been going on with this team for as long as you can remember, and until you change things, things won't change, right? I I tend to agree with that. I think that to your point, anytime there's a change at the top, there's always a trickle-down effect to some degree. And again, you can't be calling for change, and then when change happens, say, Well, I didn't want that change, right? You got you kind of have to take it as as it comes in that scenario, and yes, you're gonna I think the the the tough part about New Orleans in particular in their franchise is how New Orleans gravitates and and and and becomes their their their local teams. So, to your point, the city feels like they're attached to all these people that have worked with the organization for so long, whereas in like Boston and LA, like people get moved all around all the time, and New Orleans is a small, big city, and that everybody kind of knows everybody, and so they hurt more. And but to your point, and like Drew Dumar said when he, you know, first had his first introductory press conference, I've been at the league office, I understand what how good organizations work, I understand how bad organizations work, I understand the stuff in the middle, the things you need to have versus the things you don't have, and things like that. And so this is his opportunity to show it because I'll say this when things are bad and everyone's dwelling in the bad, every small thing is gonna be the worst thing in the world. But if you start winning, all of a sudden people tend to not care so much about small things, and again, these are people's livelihoods, these are jobs and things like that. But I just think the overall sentiment is gonna be dictated no matter what, depending on who wins. So, that being said, first of all, they're having conversations out about improving the building and putting more money in, right? And so you can't say it's just cheap, right? And so there's gotta be some ties to it from that end, but you know how I feel. Until they change the jerseys, man. I'm just telling you, that's that is the investment that I'm looking for from the organization. So we talk about winning, round run is coming to a wrap. I think the the the Rockets are about to be put out of their misery soon. I think the Suns are about to be put out of their misery soon. I think people are ready to get home to their families. Yeah, some some some some teams are ready to get home to their families. But I just want to look at the first round up until this point and see what are some of the things that you notice. I'll start. For how bad the Pelicans team is at shooting the ball and at taking threes and generating threes. The three-point selection, the three-point attempts, the three-point percentages in a player have been putrid. Like, outside of like the Celtics and like most of their games, most of the teams around the league, like even like OKC has had some bad shooting nights and stuff like that. Like, it's just not been great, which just goes to the fact that like two years ago, Boston changed the world and said everybody shoot 53. So everybody thought they should start starting shooting 53 the game. Now you get to the playoffs again, they're like, Yeah, we're not doing that. Like, that's that's not what generates wins. That's the most glaring thing. So I still think you know, as the Pelicans tend to continue to mold and change their roster as they move forward, I still think you're gonna need more shooting around you because I've watched how these guys are being guarded in the playoffs, and they are funneling shots to non-shooters over and over and over. But what's something else that's kind of stood out for you so far in round one? So, yeah, I I think yeah, it has been rough. I mean, yesterday I think, but I think it was whose game was that where it was like 39 or 24 at halftime. It was the raptors and calves, calves had the rock fight. Yeah, that was tough to watch. It was it was terrible, it was terrible. So it has been it has been some rough basketball being played. Um, so look, I have two things that I have I have I have seen in this in this first round that have kind of kind of interest me a little bit. So the first thing is I think you are realizing just how just how important a secondary option is uh in the playoffs. I think you you're you realize that team depth, again, gets you through the regular season and can win you games here and there in the playoffs. But I think the playoff formula has shown you, like look at Detroit, right? Detroit has the number one record in the east, has been that way pretty much the entire season. Um, has an all NBA caliber guy in in jail, uh, in um Kate Cunningham, and one guy who may or may not have been had all NBA considerations in Jalen Duran. And you look at their team built up, right? And you're saying, okay, well, yeah, you have that Cade and Jalen Duran, like that's two all NBA players should get you where you're going, but that's Jalen Duran is not a shot creator, and I think and I think you're realizing you're seeing it in Detroit, right? They have Cade, but they don't really have another shot creator with him. You have that excellent player in Jalen Duran down there, but he can get taken away because he he can't create his own shot for himself. Whereas you see in teams like with the against Orlando, well, yeah, if you take away Paulo, but Franz can can create his own shot, and Anthony Black can create his own shot, and Jalen Subs is getting his own shot, and Desmond Bain is getting his shot, and you're seeing the amount of fight that you're that you're getting and how difficult it is for Detroit to win this series, and they're the one seed, and that's the eight seed, right? And so I think you're seeing this, you need that secondary that secondary guy. You saw in Philly the only game that Philly and has had a chance and won against this Boston team has been because both VJ Edge Comb and Tyrese Maxie both got their shots off and both were able to create shots for themselves, right? You're looking at the same things with Jason Tatum and Jaden Brown, right? You have both of those guys shot creating for other people as well as Peyton Pritchard, who is finding a way to affect this game seriously. Look at Minnesota, Minnesota lost two shot creators in Dante DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards. And because AU Disumnu turned into Michael Jordan for a game, but being able to create shots and keep that off his going, you're gonna need shot creators, and so. I remember last year on the uh on one of his podcasts, Kevin Durant was talking about how defense is important and that you had to be able to defend and get out and make people uncomfortable. But if you wanted to win games, you got to be able to make shots, and I think that's what you're starting to see with this team, even at the in this in this playoffs, even against in that game that you talked about the Cavs and the Raptors, where it was awful. The team that was able to make the shots at the end of the game, Cleveland was not able to make those shots. Brandon Ingram, Scotty Barnes, those guys were able to make shots in an ugly game. Nobody cared about the efficiency. It was who was able to make shots at the end of the game, and I think you're starting to see how important that is. Um, in in this playoffs, and the second thing I think that you you're starting to notice is that you gotta be able to it, it might be time for you to for teams. You it it doesn't matter what what like with with with what um seed you are in the playoff, you gotta be able to win on a roll because like some of these teams who are lower seeds, like they come out and they feel like they're better than these these teams. Um, you know, Orlando comes out, and if you really look at the Orlando Detroit roster, I mean if you look at the talent level, I mean Orlando probably has more talent than Detroit off outside of K Cunningham, and you know, and obviously Paulo has found his game. So, you know what you think about those. But after that, the talent is there. You got to be able to go and not be afraid of a of a C. Look at the Lakers and the Rockets. Like the Lakers have no business, no business being in this in this series against of basically a fully healthy Rockets team outside of Durant. And Durant played a game, and so but they but every game they walk in, and it doesn't matter that they don't have anybody because, like, there's an identity and they play and they're on the road and they don't care. And part of it is because their star player doesn't give a damn where he's playing basketball, he can play it and win anywhere at any point. So you have to be able to win on the road if you want to be good. It doesn't matter if you're a one C or an A C, if you're not ready to win on the road, it doesn't you you won't be able to go anywhere. And if I that's been an obvious thing, you know, throughout obviously through playoff history. But I think now you're starting to see some of these these other these lower teams, you know, capitalize on on times they can win on the road. And if you get you know, you flip that home court in game one or game two, like that becomes a totally different series. And so I think those are the two things that I've I've noticed in this first round. Like, you got to have that second option, and they gotta be able to create their own shot um and be good and be good at it. And I think you know, being able to win on the road is like super important, and like you have to be confident in doing that, regardless of the seed that you're in, right? I think the teams that have stood out to me are the teams that know who they are, right? Like, this is how we're gonna win, and we're gonna make the game ugly like this because that's how we win, versus Boston. We're gonna we might lose to Philly in a game we probably shouldn't lose, but we're gonna blow you out those other games because eventually our three is gonna drop like teams know the lane that they have to play in, and again, that's still an area that I think the Pelicans are figuring out and figuring out what they need to be. Last year they were great in points to the paint, which should serve you well in a playoff scenario, but they were off at the three-point line, and you're seeing to your point, if you can't okay, let's first start with the centers. We talked about the the the the lack of a rebounder or like someone who the Jonas Valentuna, so to speak, someone who just gobbles up every rebound. But if you're watching these playoffs and you're seeing Donovan Kleegan and Jonas Valentina, some of these guys can't get on the court for longer than like 10 or 11 minutes because as soon as they get on the court, the other teams like that's where we're going. Not only that, you got guys who are going 0 for six, 0 for 7, 0 for 8 at the three-point line, and they're like, yo, we can't play you in these games. Yakka Purdle makes a gazillion dollars, and they're like, yo, we're going with the rookie. Like, you can't have non-shooters in the game, like you can't have guys who can't defend. So, like, your traditional big is just struggling right now in the NBA. It's just struggling. If you're not an athletic big, teams are saying we'd rather Robert dust off Robert Williams and put him back in the game and let him close because he's our best chance because they got a victory up over there. I watch in the year of our Lord 2026, Andre Drummond hit three corner threes in a game. Andre Drummond said, I gotta get with the time. And I respect it. I respect it. I respect it. If you can't defend and you can't move your feet, like those guys are being played off of the court. If you can't shoot off of the court in the playoffs, and the Pelicans struggle in that area in a lot of ways. And so I'm just interested to see what that looks like. I think two-way is now like what you need to be in order to be in the NBA. The other thing I'll say is like I think that like the notion that I don't want to say, I don't want to say that experience is now like on par with like athleticism and youth. Because like if you're going through these series and you're watching like the more athletic, like all season long, you'd bring up the Pistons. All season long, how have the Pistons won? They beat the shit out of you, they out rebound everybody, and they let Cade do his thing. All of a sudden, they ran up to a team that was just as athletic, just as strong, just as flexible, just as switchable, and all of a sudden Wendell Carter is just as good as Jalen Duran, who's about to be first team on NBA. So, like, if you don't have like those guys that can compete in today's NBA that are 6'5, 6'7, 6'8 all the way up that can switch one through five, like I just think it's going to be tough. I know you mentioned like having the second option. I would argue, man, I understand LeBron to me is the greatest basketball player of all time. But this man is beating the Houston Rockers, who are a great defensive team all season, with guys who five years ago you'd be like, okay, that's a good set of role players. But now you're like, oh, Luke Canard's the best player. I'm about to say not this is Luke Kennardi Rachel. Luke putting that ball on the ground. This is Luke Kennardi Rachel. So, like, if you don't have one of those guys who Luca, Jokic, LeBron, who can make everyone else on the court better regardless of their status in the league, you have to have more than two players. Like, it can't just be superstar and superstar-esque. Or if you got that player, giving the ball. Well, that too. It you need to have two, like the Spurs, you know what Wimby's bringing, whether it's offense, defense, you know what the floor is. Some nights is De'Aaron Fox, some nights it's Stephon Castle, sometimes it's it's it's harper. Like any night, it could be one of those, but you know what you're getting with Victor, right? So as long as you got those, it's the same thing with the Celtics. As long as as Jason Tatum and Jalen Brown got it going on, what Peyton Pridgers or Derek White or one of those other guys got to hit shots, you gotta have the right collection. I see the comment in the check. So who's likely second option? Who's most likely to be second option on the Pelicans next season? First of all, I think they need to establish a first option before you get started anywhere. Second of all, I could easily see DeJounte Murray having a 30-point game in the playoffs. I could easily see a Trey Murphy having a 30-point game in the playoffs. I'm very interested to see a Jeremiah Fierce or Derrick Queen. What can you do in the playoffs? Like, they have this is why the Pelicans are so unique. There's guys there, that's Sadiq Bay. We didn't even mention him. There's guys that you could easily see not being afraid of the moment and being able to perform in the moment. But if you don't have that planet that everybody revolves around, look at what the I'm very interested to see what the rest of the Timberwolves series look like. Once you take that guy away, it's just so difficult for other to even Devin Booker in the Suns. Like it's him, and then like he's seeing what it looks like when four and five guys are guarding you because they will let everyone else shoot. Like, you gotta have all the right ingredients, but it starts with that superstar planet. So I I am very curious to see how you know, once round one kind of comes to end, you kind of see where things are going, even though the Pelicans of Atlanta um they're holding the Knicks to the fire, and and CJ McCullough is is becoming a villain in front of my eyes, which I love to see. Good to see for those guys. Shout out to Tikkel from with the sixth man of the year, things like that. Like they're they're keeping it fun and they're keeping these these series going. But I'm curious to see as we get to round two, and definitely as we get to round three, what are the flaws and what are the cracks that that are about to surface for some of these teams? So, with that being said, again, the Pelicans coaching search is underway, the playoffs are underway, things are starting to heat up. The W is is underway. What you got left for the people as we round into the summertime? As always, you never know what people are going through. So give someone a smile today. Yeah, man, the the coaching search is gonna be interesting. I I'm really interested to see, you know, where the Pelicans land, uh, as far as the coaching going, what's the timeline on it? Because again, you got a lot of stuff that needs to be decided on, um, you know, moving forward as far as options and trades and you know things like that. Um, so you kind of want to have a guy who who is gonna architecture it all, um, have him in in you know in house at some point soon. So um, you know, I'd be just interested to see where it lands. So uh, so yeah, as always, follow myself at Garrick underscore rattler, follow my brother at Raphael underscore rattle, follow the page at ino underscore basketball. No e. Most importantly, subscribe to New Orleans.basketball, and we'll see you guys in the next one.