Although Tyronn Lue is widely expected to replace Doc Rivers as the Los Angeles Clippers' head coach, the New Orleans Pelicans still plan on interviewing him for their head coaching gig, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin worked with Lue on the Cleveland Cavaliers, so they have a close relationship.

Per Woj:

The Sixers also interviewed Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue this week, sources said, but Lue is emerging as a strong candidate to replace Rivers with the Clippers. The Clippers are planning to interview other candidates, starting soon, sources said.

The New Orleans Pelicans are planning to interview Lue in the near future too, sources said. Lue and Pelicans Executive VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin have strong ties, most notably working together to win an NBA title in Cleveland in 2016.

The Pelicans fired Alvin Gentry after the seeding games at Walt Disney World ended. The team went 30-42 during the 2019-20 season and missed the playoffs.

New Orleans' roster is headlined by Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Jrue Holiday, J.J. Redick and Jaxson Hayes. The Pelicans have a really bright future as long as Williamson stays healthy and Ingram, Ball and Hart continue to improve.

With the Cavs, Lue went 128-83 in the regular season and 41-20 in the playoffs.

The Pelicans, who are in the post-Anthony Davis era, need to hire a head coach who is good at in-game adjustments and connecting with players both on and off the court. Lue excels at both, so New Orleans fans are certainly hoping he takes the job instead of staying with the Clippers, where he was an assistant coach under Rivers.