Joe Dumars leaves rivals ‘confused’ in almost every way

Joe Dumars tenure as New Orleans Pelicans‘ president of basketball operations was a pleasant surprise; except that it was only pleasant for the other teams in the NBA, not the Pelicans.

Dumars, a longtime former Detroit Pistons executive, had been working in the NBA front office for several years when Pelicans owner Gail Benson hired him to be team president, replacing David Griffin, who was fired after six years on the job. And while Dumars had plenty of success in Detroit, including an NBA title and an Executive of the Year award, he didn’t get such high marks for his work – or lack thereof – in New Orleans.

“Shortly after taking over as president of the New Orleans Pelicans in July, Joe Dumars spoke to his team’s scouting department and emphasized two things — first, that character was paramount, and second, whoever they brought in had to be able to defend,” wrote John Hollinger of the Athletics.

“Shortly after he left, those same scouts looked at their phones and were shocked to see The Pelicans traded for Jordan Poole — a defense attorney whose attitude questions have plagued him for years; his behavior has already raised eyebrows during his limited time in New Orleans.

“That story, which made the rounds of summer league and was recently reported by HoopsHipe’s Michael Scotto, is just one of many entertaining stories circulating about the Pelicans’ dysfunction over the past half year since team governor Gale Benson hired Dumars.”

Hollinger went on to write that Dumars, who was reportedly hired without much of an extensive search, “has done almost all the work” for his general manager, former Detroit executive Troy Weaver, and as a result has a position that is “just a little bit more demanding than Kawhi Leonard’s endorsement deal with aspiration.”

Weaver’s hiring was also described as “puzzling” executives around the league, given Weaver’s less-than-stellar stint with the Pistons, who were among the worst teams under him. Since partnering in New Orleans, Dumars and Weaver have made several moves, including trading Poole and deal for first-round draft pick Derrick Queenwho were slandered by both fans and analysts.

That trade for the queenin particular, it remains a constant reminder to Dumars, Weaver and the long-suffering Pelicans fan base for the foreseeable future that New Orleans dealt his unprotected pick in the first round in next year’s draft contract. And at 2-12, the worst record in the Western Conference, that pick will very likely be incredibly beneficial for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Pelicans will host the 10-3 Denver Nuggets tomorrow night at 7 p.m.