New Orleans Pelicans owner Gayle Benson was the one reportedly calling the shots when it came time to fire general manager Dell Demps, according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Demps was suddenly fired, as the Pelicans now invest the rest of this season in finding a high-level executive to help them navigate the Anthony Davis saga, which could be a decision that has ramifications that can spread out into an entire decade if they don't get the right assets in return.
The moment is perhaps as critical as it was to trade point guard Chris Paul back in 2011. Demps was in charge back then, a rather inexperienced executive at the time, a caveat that was sternly criticized by former NBA commissioner David Stern, who was in charge as an interim owner of the team because the league was in caretaker control of the New Orleans Hornets.
Demps was hoping to go through with a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers, but Stern nixed the trade, considering the assets in return were not enough in return for Paul, who was a three-time All-Star on the rise at the time.
Stern later secured a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers and alled Demps a “lousy general manager” years after the fact, citing incompetence as the main reason he didn't think Demps would get very far as an executive.
Others have said just as much, claiming Demps demanded accountability, but didn't display it himself — something that became evident when head coach Alvin Gentry was tasked with answering plenty of questions about the outcome of the trade deadline, which he played no part of.
This is Gayle Benson's first big-time call since late husband Tom Benson was in charge of the team, playing a steadfast card in hopes to have the right hands taking care of the future of this franchise.
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