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Pelicans GM Dell Demps has attractive job opening to fill at head coach

With a top-five NBA player on the roster who’s only 22 years old – surrounded by a cast of mostly young, developing contributors entering the prime of their careers – the New Orleans Pelicans have an attractive head-coach opening to fill. That process will begin soon, according to GM Dell Demps, but there is no timetable for when the team’s next head coach will be hired, after the Pelicans parted ways with Monty Williams on Tuesday.

“We’re going to find a coach who is good for us. Hopefully we can find someone who can take us to the next level,” Demps said during a 15-minute press conference in Metairie. “We haven’t begun the search yet, but we’re going to find the best available candidate. How can we build? How can we grow? How can we keep improving? 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.”

This will be the first search of Demps’ stint as general manager for a head coach. The last time New Orleans had an opening was the summer of 2010, when the then-Hornets were coming off an injury-riddled 37-45, non-playoff season. Williams was hired in June of that year, roughly a month before Demps replaced Jeff Bower as GM. This time around, New Orleans offers considerably more stability, particularly given that later in ’10, the team’s ownership was taken over by the NBA, an unprecedented setup.

In virtually every category, on and off the court, the Pelicans are in better position than when Williams debuted as head coach at the beginning of the decade.

“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.

“I feel like we have a good core, obviously centered around Anthony Davis. I think we have some good players on this team. Our goal is to keep going in the right direction.”

Other notes from Tuesday’s media availability:

  • The future of New Orleans’ current assistant coaches will be determined by the next Pelicans coach. Demps: “We talked to all of the assistant coaches. Their job status will be depending on the next (head) coach. He’ll have the opportunity to retain them. That will be up to the new coach.”
  • Demps on the process for finding the next coach: “I’m going to lead the coaching search, but it will be an organizational decision… I do not have a timeframe.”
  • Demps on Monty Williams: “He is a man of integrity and a true professional. We thank him for all his hard work and dedication to the Pelicans, and we wish him well.”