The New Orleans Pelicans are without rookie phenom power forward Zion Williamson, who has missed the entire season so far with a torn meniscus. They have been one of the worst teams in the NBA, and on Saturday suffered an embarrassing 46-point loss to the Dallas Mavericks. At 6-17, and even without Williamson, the past summer was supposed to surround the young core with veteran pieces to make the Pelicans competitive under head coach Alvin Gentry.

Despite the rough start to the season, Gentry is reportedly not on the hot seat for New Orleans, per William Guillory in The Athletic.

But from what I understand — and things could change drastically after the worst regular-season loss in franchise history — Gentry still has a great relationship with ownership and with executive vice president David Griffin.

Griffin went out of his way to praise Gentry during the summer and proclaim him the exact kind of coach he wants to lead his newly constructed roster. That roster, obviously, has been unavailable to Gentry. However, losses like Saturday’s are inexcusable regardless of what the roster looks like, and people in New Orleans are tired of watching a team lie down and die after everyone has been sold on the idea that the Pelicans #WontBowDown.

I don’t think this loss is enough to convince Griffin and owner Gayle Benson that it’s time for a coaching change, but if things don’t change, and soon, Gentry’s days could be quickly numbered.

Gentry has been at the helm for New Orleans since the 2015-16 season and is widely respected around the NBA. New executive vice president David Griffin placed his confidence in Gentry following the summer's massive Anthony Davis deal. Even though the Pels are struggling, it shouldn't come at the cost of the head coach's job. Gentry will be tasked with ushering the franchise into the next generation in terms of on-the-court product.