The New Orleans Pelicans have parted ways with general manager Dell Demps, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
The organization is discussing internal candidates for interim job, including David Booth and former Atlanta Hawks GM Danny Ferry. The Pelicans plan to be aggressive in the marketplace to hire a high-level basketball executive.
The Pelicans' ownership was reportedly livid with an injured Anthony Davis leaving arena during Thursday night’s game, shortly after the team failed to trade him before the trade deadline, given only two weeks to deal him due to the timing of his request.
Gayle Benson, the widow of former owner Tom Benson, is telling associates she wants an overhaul of this Pelicans team, which would start with a search for a GM to take command of Davis trade talks and the reshaping of this team’s future.
Demps had followed fellow GM R.C. Buford of the San Antonio Spurs, who reportedly showed him the blueprint of how to deal with a pressure situation like the one he was put under once Davis' agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, made the trade public with only two weeks' time to get a deal done before the deadline.
Ownership and senior management have been pleased with head coach Alvin Gentry and his staff and the way they've handled this entire process, believing their players are largely responding in what has proved to be a tumultuous stretch at the wake of Davis' return to the team.
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