The New Orleans Pelicans opened the James Borrego era with a familiar result, losing 118-104 to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday at Smoothie King Center and extending their skid to five games. Borrego, elevated after Willie Green’s dismissal on Saturday, watched his club slip to 2-11.
“We’ve got a lot to do,” Borrego said postgame. “The beauty of this game is you come back to work the next day. It doesn’t get any easier. We’ve got another juggernaut coming in.” New Orleans hosts 13-1 Oklahoma City on Monday.
Immediate lineup shake-up
Borrego’s first move was to insert rookie center Derik Queen into the starting five. The No. overall pick logged 24 minutes, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists. New Orleans placed four players in double figures but committed 20 turnovers that led to 27 Golden State points.
“There were costly, careless turnovers in transition,” Borrego said. “We’ve got to have more poise. There’s a balance between playing fast and frenetic and playing with poise.”
Background on Green’s firing
League sources told HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto that executives were surprised Green lasted as long as he did given the slow start. Executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars initially backed the former coach but repeatedly stressed the need for improvement, according to the report.
Scotto also noted discontent inside the locker room. Off-season acquisition Jordan Poole was reportedly upset after being removed from the starting lineup on October 29, and Trey Murphy III felt Green’s voice had grown stale. Some within the franchise believed Green did not hold Zion Williamson sufficiently accountable.
Roster moves under scrutiny
Dumars convened his staff this summer to emphasize defense, toughness, basketball IQ and high motor, sources said. Roughly an hour later, the club traded for Poole, whose $31.8 million salary this season—and $34 million in 2026-27—rival executives view as difficult to move.
The Poole deal and the trade that sent an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to Atlanta for Queen were championed by senior vice president of basketball operations Troy Weaver, Dumars’ long-time associate, Scotto reported.
Early coaching search chatter
Weaver is a strong proponent of former Nets assistant Kevin Ollie as a potential long-term coach. Free-agent sideline veterans Tom Thibodeau, Michael Malone and Taylor Jenkins could also draw interest, though their expected salaries may exceed New Orleans’ comfort level. Marc Stein of The Stein Line added Bucks assistant Darvin Ham to the list of names to watch.
The Pelicans continue their search while trying to steady a season that has veered off course less than a month into the schedule.
Source: Hoops Rumors
