Latest news with #JoeDumars
New York Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New York Times
Pelicans leadership addresses future with Zion Williamson following rape accusation
New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars and owner Gayle Benson are standing behind star forward Zion Williamson after he was accused of rape and domestic violence in a civil lawsuit last week. 'I've had really good conversations with Zion,' Dumars told The Times-Picayune on Wednesday about Williamson's future with the team. 'We've had lunch. Dinner. Watched playoff games together. We've done it all. I've had some real honest conversations with him. Some real direct and honest conversations. We're going to go forward with Zion. He's going to continue to be a focal point here as we go forward.' Advertisement When asked about the lawsuit against Williamson, Dumars said, 'I've been advised not to venture into any of his legal issues.' On Tuesday, Benson, who also owns the New Orleans Saints, addressed the suit, saying, 'You know, lawsuits are lawsuits.' 'People can sue you for anything,' Benson told reporters, per WWLTV. 'There's no reason. You can be innocent or not, so it's just something that people do, unfortunately.' The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday by a woman who said she dated Williamson for almost five years, beginning when he was a freshman at Duke. The woman, identified as Jane Doe in the suit, is seeking an unspecified amount in damages from Williamson. In the lawsuit, she alleged that Williamson repeatedly raped her, hit and kicked her and made her fear for her life in several instances before the relationship ended in June 2023. She also alleged that Williamson falsely imprisoned and stalked her, threatened to kill her, and that he had a pattern of 'abusive, controlling, and threatening behavior.' Williamson denied the allegations in a statement through his attorneys, calling them 'categorically false and reckless.' His attorneys disputed the nature of the relationship, saying he and the woman never dated but maintained 'a consensual, casual relationship.' The attorneys said they 'reported the plaintiff's extortion attempts to law enforcement' and that Williamson 'intends to file counterclaims and seek significant damages for this defamatory lawsuit.' Williamson, 24, played at Duke for one season before the Pelicans selected him with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. He has spent six seasons as the team's star but has only logged 214 career games due to numerous injuries.
New York Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Zion Williamson rumors, Willie Green's status and draft targets: Pelicans mailbag
With the NBA Draft a month away, the rumor mill around the league should start heating up soon, but the chatter will probably be quiet around the New Orleans Pelicans. After dropping a few spots in the lottery and landing the No. 7 pick in the first round, New Orleans won't play a factor in the Ace Bailey debate or the speculation that there could be a surprise name that jumps into the top five. Advertisement The Pelicans still have a chance to land a quality contributor at No. 7. It's just going to require some patience. That will probably be an overarching theme around the Pelicans this season. For those who have been patiently awaiting another one of our mailbags, today's your lucky day. Let's get into some questions submitted by our readers about the draft, potential trades, the future with new executive vice president of basketball Joe Dumars in charge and, of course, Zion Williamson. Here we go! (Some questions have been edited for length and clarity.) What odds would you put on a Zion trade this summer? – Louis G. Let's go ahead and get this one out of the way. Yes, the Pelicans were very intentional with their decision to make Williamson the team's on-stage representative at the NBA Draft Lottery a few weeks ago (and Williamson's decision to be there was also intentional). Yes, it's very unlikely Williamson gets moved in a trade before the 2025-26 season starts. There's already been communication between Williamson, his camp and Dumars on several occasions. All parties feel pretty good about where things stand with the Pelicans-Williamson marriage heading into next season. Yes, I can understand why that decision can be frustrating for fans hoping for a much more thorough reset after the Brandon Ingram trade last February and the decision to fire David Griffin at the end of the season. Ultimately, it's really difficult to give up on Williamson when he was playing the best basketball of his career during the second half of last season. He was in the best shape of his career and it was the most impact he's made on both ends of the court. If he picks up where he left off and performs at the same level next season, New Orleans will be one of the wild cards in the Western Conference. Of course, he has to stay healthy. If he can't, the Pelicans will be right back in the lottery next summer. Advertisement I can't blame them for taking the risk when the potential Williamson can reach is so high. No realistic Williamson trade package would've brought back a return that could match everything Williamson brings when he's healthy and locked in. However, I'd also expect this regime to have far less patience with Williamson if he doesn't stay on the right path or if injuries become an issue again. With Ingram gone and Dejounte Murray sidelined for at least the first few months of the season, this team needs Williamson to perform like a superstar, and be on the floor consistently. Why should we be hopeful about a Dumars/Willie Green pairing? – James C. Should Dumars repeat a big Griffin mistake and retain our head coach? If memory serves me, that led to three different coaches in three years. Who would you like to see come in and take over? – Paul S. Shout-out to James for wording his question really well. For those who are skeptical of the Dumars hiring, it's unfair to assume he'll fail purely based on some of the poor decisions he made at the end of his Detroit Pistons tenure in the early 2010s or the fact it's been more than a decade since he was in charge of running an organization. However, he doesn't have an obvious path to follow. When the Pelicans hired Griffin to be the lead executive for the organization in 2019, fans were hopeful and supported him due to Williamson's arrival and the expectation that he could get a significant return in the Anthony Davis trade. Even though the Pelicans were starting over, everyone knew Griffin had the pieces to start this rebuild on the right foot. Things are much different now. Upon his arrival, Dumars won't be leading a complete rebuild with this group. Green will still be his head coach. Williamson will still be the best player on the team. Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and Yves Missi will remain pivotal building blocks for the present and the future. Advertisement Dumars' success in his first year will probably be judged less by his moves to improve the roster and more by the nuanced things he does behind the scenes to shift the culture in New Orleans. This team doesn't need an overhaul of the roster. It just needs the players who are currently on the roster to suit up and play consistently. If Dumars can make that happen, he'll look like a genius. If Williamson, Murphy and Jones miss close to as many games as they did last year, everyone will say the Dumars hire was a disaster. There will be no simple way to win over fans. Dumars will have to gain the confidence of folks in New Orleans by making shrewd moves to bolster this roster and demanding more from his star players on and off the court. As for the front office/coach pairing, I agree that the decision to keep Green feels similar to Griffin, when he was hired in 2019, retaining Alvin Gentry as head coach. One year later, Gentry was out as head coach and the relationship between he and Griffin deteriorated because they never quite clicked. While he has his deficiencies, it's tough to blame Green for the way last season turned out in New Orleans. The injuries last year's team dealt with were truly unprecedented, and it's wrong to ignore the progress the team made under him in previous years. Whenever people were down on Green, I've always pointed out that he's shown a willingness to grow and adapt during his four seasons with the Pelicans. He's been open to trying different strategies and lineup combinations. He's remained adaptable whenever injuries arose. He's got to show that next sign of development by being more innovative with the offence and his decision-making late in games, but having a young coach who's still growing should be considered an asset for New Orleans. Most executives end up hand-picking their coach for a reason. Alignment at every level of organization is a pivotal part of success. Even if the Pelicans succeed early on, that dynamic between Dumars and Green will be at the forefront whenever this group struggles. Advertisement I know this is a 'doomer' take, but is there truly anything to get excited about for next season other than 20 games of Zion (if we keep him), Missi's growth, and Joel Meyers and Antonio Daniels on the broadcast? At least the latter is free, and I don't have to watch the games to listen to them. – Ryan M. What are 2-3 things that need to happen for the Pelicans to contend for a playoff spot besides Zion being/staying healthy? – Tony K. These questions are somewhat related, so I decided to combine them into one. First, any time Meyers and Daniels are on the call, it's worth the price of admission. The Pelicans are lucky to have what I consider a top-five play-by-play/analyst combo on any local broadcast. They're very good at their jobs despite covering such a hectic franchise. Now that I've got that out of the way, here are three things the Pelicans need to do to get people excited/ get the team back to the playoffs (excluding Zion's health): • Trey Murphy and Herb Jones have to stay healthy and they both have to advance their games to another level. I understand it's somewhat cheating to throw any health-related points on this list, but Murphy and Jones have become such pivotal figures for this team on the court and among the fanbase. Their growth from rookies into two of the leaders on the team has turned them into beloved figures in New Orleans. If they stay healthy and perform like guys who can be the second- and third-best players on a playoff team, it would galvanize the fanbase and provide a much clearer outlook for the franchise. Williamson, Murphy and Jones have already shown excellent on-court chemistry. They just need to keep building on it. • Find a point guard to fill Murray's shoes until he's ready to return from his Achilles injury. It can be through the draft by taking Jeremiah Fears or Kasparas Jakučionis. It can be through free agency or a trade. Find someone who can run the offense and bring the most out of Murphy, Jones and Missi. The Murray/Pels pairing wasn't going great before his awful injury. With so much uncertainty surrounding his future, anyone who steps into that role and provides quality minutes will instantly become a fan favorite. • Use some veteran contracts on the books to build depth via trades. CJ McCollum and Kelly Olynyk are both on expiring contracts. Jordan Hawkins is extension-eligible this summer. Much could change over the next month based on how the draft goes, but it feels unlikely all three of those guys will be back on the team next season. There's also the possibility that New Orleans could use Bruce Brown in a sign-and-trade with a veteran team. Either way, this team needs to start building some depth and open up the books for the future instead of investing in older complementary players. Of course, having a veteran presence on the roster is key. But it feels like a good time to cash out on experienced veterans like McCollum and Olynyk, with so many contending teams desperate to shrink their tax bill in the coming years. I agree that we are not in a doomed situation. We have a talented roster and improved roster construction after the Ingram trade. Will, assuming we stay at No. 7, do you think the team is best served with the best available point guard, or does it depend on who is available? – Robert S. Personally, I say the best-case scenario for this team will be landing one of Fears, Tre Johnson or Kon Knueppel. One of those guys will be available at No. 7. Just take the best available of those three guys and it'll make life for Dumars and Green much easier. I like Knueppel the most out of those three options because the floor on what he can become in the NBA seems so high due to his high-level shooting and steady approach when he's making plays off the dribble. Advertisement Fears will be linked to the Pelicans by many draft experts because of the Murray injury. A few members of the Pelicans organization think highly of Fears. I do think there will be some hesitancy with making Fears the No. 7 pick. The former Oklahoma star had trouble knocking down outside jumpers during his only season in college and it's a common belief among draft experts that Fears needs time to get stronger and be more consistent with his decision-making before he's ready to be a full-time starter. Handing him the keys to an offense right away seems like a bad idea, especially if he can't space the floor while playing off the ball. I've also heard rumblings that the emergence of Missi last year won't stop New Orleans from taking a serious look at Duke big man Khaman Maluach. Those who believe in Maluach view him as one of the players with the highest ceiling in this draft because of the impact he can make on defense and the continued improvement he's shown as an outside shooter. I have doubts about using such a high pick on a center when Missi performed so well as a rookie. Maluach also has some holes in his game that may not improve. Waiting for another young center to develop seems counterproductive when Missi has already shown he's one of the better young bigs in the league. However, if they keep looking into Maluach, that should tell you how they feel about Missi's future as a starting center. Just add some more shooters and figure out where they fit later. It's hard to go wrong with that strategy.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
''It was like they got rid of my dad" - Rodman was furious with the Pistons when they fired Chuck Daly
The Detroit Pistons' "Bad Boys" were frontlined by the likes of Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, and Joe Dumars, but those squads had many contributing individuals from the shadows. One of the most important was Dennis Rodman. A shy second-round pick, "The Worm" earned a place under the NBA sun, thanks in part to the guidance of Coach Chuck Daly, who knew how to utilize the energetic forward to the maximum. So, when the Pistons decided to get rid of Daly in 1992, it was no surprise that Rodman was heartbroken, to say the least. Advertisement ''It was like they got rid of my dad,'' Dennis said. ''I couldn't forgive them.'' The secret "Bad Boys" weapon While Thomas handled the scoring load, Laimbeer manned the paint and played the enforcer role. However, Rodman was often tasked with stopping the best opposing players due to his versatility and ability to guard multiple positions. That skill earned Dennis a lot of praise around the NBA, winning two DPOY awards and being a huge part of two championships. ''He had no fear of guarding anybody; Bird, Jordan,'' said Daly. In the 1991-1992 season, which turned out to be Chuck's last at the helm of the Pistons, Rodman had arguably the best individual season of his career. Starting in 80 out of 82 games, "The Worm" averaged 9.8 points, 18.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game on the way to his second All-Star appearance. Advertisement However, the "Bad Boys" would get bounced out by the New York Knicks 3-2 in the first round, signaling the end of an era. Only a year after getting swept by their archrivals, the Chicago Bulls, it was apparent that Detroit was past its past days, and Coach Daly was the first victim. Rodman stayed on the team, but losing Chuck messed him up. Dennis would spend one more season in Detroit, marred by off-court troubles, like his first divorce and custody battle, only adding to the mental overload from losing a father figure in Daly. Eventually, in the 1993 off-season, the 6'7" forward got traded to the San Antonio Spurs, which ended up being the start of his eccentric era. Related: 'His dad's been trying to get him out of here for a while' - Andre Iguodala says Klay Thompson's dad had been asking his son to join the Lakers for years Chuck knew how to get the best out of Dennis For a player without a jumper or any particular basketball skill on a high level, Rodman managed to build an impressive career mainly due to playing to his strengths and knowing his role. Daly was always encouraging "The Worm" to trust his instincts and not overthink when on the floor. Advertisement "He still screams, 'Don't think! Don't think!' at me when I start thinking too much, I mess up," Rodman said. "When I just go out there and work my tail off, play my game, I play a whole lot better." Dennis would not click with another coach until he arrived to the Chicago Bulls and Phil Jackson. Under the "Zen Master", the Southeastern Oklahoma State product would again find his niche and be placed in an ideal position to contribute to a championship squad. "The Worm" was a complicated individual and limited player, but under the right mentor and voice, Rodman was the perfect complementary guy for building a winning team. Masterminds like Daly and Jackson knew that, as Dennis recognized the greatness of those two coaches and trusted them completely. Related: "When you factor size, I don't know how you could say there's ever been a better rebounder" - Chuck Daly said Dennis Rodman is the rebounding GOAT
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"I had a sinking feeling in my heart" - Bill Laimbeer felt Isiah Thomas deserved the Finals MVP over Joe Dumars in 1989
Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars are regarded as the leaders of the Detroit Pistons' Bad Boys. The two guards powered the "Motor City" team to one of the best teams in the NBA from the mid-80s to the early 90s. Their collective intensity, coupled with their basketball talent, guided the likes of Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman, and John Salley to unprecedented heights. But while the spotlight often shone on Dumars for his calm demeanor and Finals MVP trophy, Laimbeer had no doubt who really ran the show. For Laimbeer, the heart and soul of the Pistons wore No. 11. Will the real leader please stand up? But popular opinion doesn't always align with player opinion. In Laimbeer's eyes, Thomas was the true leader of the team. The Bad Boy philosophy mirrored "Zeke's" personality and style of play. This ferociousness inspired the Pistons to play with their hearts on their sleeve. So much so that when Dumars snagged the 1989 NBA Finals MVP, Laimbeer felt something was off. Advertisement "That he was voted MVP is insignificant," Laimbeer said in 1990, per the Los Angeles Times. "Because MVP is based on a five-game series. He is our MVP. If you ask anyone on our team or anyone who sees us, they'd all tell you." "This team is his personality. The determination and drive all revolve around him. The fact that Joe Dumars won the (NBA finals MVP in 1989) is great. We all felt happy for him, but I had a sinking feeling in my heart. It was sad for me because of all Isiah had done over the years. Now that he's won it, I feel so warm and happy for him," he added. Pistons' legendary point guard was labeled as a dirty player throughout his career, but the former Hoosier took it in stride and just played on. Thomas' brand of basketball was all about being physical, but not everyone subscribed to this. This made him a constant target of the media and other NBA players. This tarnished his reputation, but instead of folding, the Chicago native stuck to his guns. Related: "I got so much criticism because I was able to shoot" - Ewing on why he wishes he had come up in this era Tough love Laimbeer gravitated towards this philosophy simply because it was also how he operated. In one practice session, the center and point guard almost came to blows after Bill set a rough screen. Advertisement Isiah reportedly broke his hand after punching Laimbeer, but the two miraculously patched things up after a few days. Bill cleared the air, noting it was just a little tussle between two fierce competitors. "Oh, I would say, basically, competitiveness," Laimbeer said. "He's his own strong-willed personality; I'm my own strong-willed personality. Those things happen…Oh, we love each other. I mean, it's the bottom line that won't ever change." Perhaps the ultimate act of their camaraderie came in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals against the Chicago Bulls. After a heartbreaking 0-4 series loss to Michael Jordan and crew, Thomas, Laimbeer, and several other Pistons walked off the arena without shaking the Bulls' hands. They were criticized for their lack of sportsmanship. Even today, fans continue to castigate the Pistons bunch and paint them as the ultimate villains. Still, Laimbeer and Thomas continue to stand by their decision. Their philosophy, grounded on a blue-collar work ethic and an uncompromising attitude, lives on. That alone deserves respect. Related: "You can just go by winning record, right?" - Isiah Thomas reluctantly included Michael Jordan in his top-five toughest-ever opponents
New York Times
07-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Pelicans draft scenarios: What happens if they don't get Cooper Flagg?
After restructuring their front office a few weeks ago, firing David Griffin and hiring Joe Dumars as their new top basketball executive, the New Orleans Pelicans still face many questions. Monday will provide some welcome clarity. The NBA's annual draft lottery will be held in Chicago on May 12. The Pelicans have a 12.5 percent chance of landing the top pick. With the future of Zion Williamson still unclear and several key players recovering from major surgeries this offseason, getting a chance to add a franchise-changer like Duke forward Cooper Flagg would give New Orleans — or any other team – a much better idea of what the path forward looks like. Flagg is the kind of prospect who can become the face of a franchise over the next decade. Those don't come along very often. With the high-end talent in this year's draft, securing a top-four pick would be a huge win for New Orleans as it begins the Dumars era. The Pelicans go into Monday with a 48.1 percent chance of landing in the top four. If they fall out of that range, losing out on Dylan Harper or Ace Bailey would be a tough blow for New Orleans. It would also make it much more difficult to find the immediate contributor this team needs. It could open up the possibility of New Orleans trading this year's first-round pick for an immediate contributor rather than waiting for another prospect to develop. As we wait for Monday's highly anticipated results, I ran through a few scenarios on to see where the Pelicans might land and how they would respond based on where they land in the top 10. Let's spin the lottery wheel five times and see where the Pelicans land. Make sure to grab those four-leaf clovers and rabbit's feet while you still have a chance. (All below images/selections, save for Pelicans picks, via Tankathon.) Scenario No. 1 With the fifth pick, the Pelicans select … Kon Knueppel, guard, Duke This might be the most interesting spot in the top 10. Most pundits have said Flagg, Harper, Bailey and V.J. Edgecombe are the four best prospects coming out this year, and there's probably a substantial gap between those four and the rest of the class. ( The Athletic's Sam Vecenie had Bailey falling to fifth in his most recent mock.) But once those top four picks are gone, there's wide variance among draft experts about who belongs where in the rest of the top 10. While each of the prospects in that range brings intriguing skills, they also come with notable flaws. Among this group, Knueppel feels like the safest bet due to his combination of size (6-foot-7, 217 pounds), outside shooting and on-ball playmaking. He'll step into the lineup and immediately become one of the most reliable spot-up shooters in New Orleans. In today's NBA, there's no such thing as too many good 3-point shooters, especially if Williamson remains as the No. 1 option on offense. It's also easy to see Knueppel and Williamson replicating some of the two-man actions Knueppel had a lot of success running with Flagg during their time together at Duke. Whether Knueppel can become a viable one-on-one defender in the NBA and if he'll be worth a top-five pick if he doesn't become much more than a spot-up shooter are viable concerns. Still, he provides a lot of the traits that teams will be comfortable betting on at an uncertain point in the draft. Scenario No. 2 With the fourth pick, the Pelicans select … V.J. Edgecombe, guard, Baylor If the Pelicans are in this position come draft night, they should sprint to the stage and hand in their card with Edgecombe as the pick. The Baylor product is one of my favorite players in this year's draft. The thought of having an excellent athlete on the court with Williamson and Trey Murphy is tantalizing. It could turn New Orleans into a must-watch on League Pass. Edgecombe is still developing as an on-ball creator and scorer, but guards who slash through the lane and play above the rim the way he does are hard to find. His disruptive style on defense would make him a natural fit next to Herb Jones. He could help the Pelicans reclaim some of the defensive dominance they used to have when Jones and Dyson Daniels shared the floor a few years ago. There will be some concerns about Edgecombe being a 'true' point guard next to Murphy and Williamson. Whether he's a point guard or a shooting guard long-term, his talent is undeniable. If the Pelicans had the No. 3 pick, Edgecombe would still be my pick over Bailey. Scenario No. 3 With the second pick, the Pelicans select … Dylan Harper, guard, Rutgers As crazy as it sounds, I would consider this the best-case scenario for New Orleans coming out of the lottery. Harper is a big point guard who scores at every level, passes really well and steps up in big moments. He'd step in immediately as the lead ballhandler in New Orleans and the co-star that this franchise needs next to Williamson and Murphy. A player with his particular skills is even more crucial now after Pelicans point guard Dejounte Murray ruptured his Achilles tendon last January, which casts doubt on his availability this season. Even beyond that, there's no telling what Murray, at 28, will look like once he finally returns from this injury. Anyone assuming he'll fully recover and be the same player he was before the injury has to also consider the rough history of those who have come back from it. Harper's style as a high pick-and-roll point guard who likes to play downhill fits seamlessly with the pieces New Orleans already has on the roster in Murphy, Jones and Yves Missi. He could fit next to Williamson or he could be the building block the Pelicans orient their rebuild around if they decide to move on from Williamson. Harper's inconsistency and lack of success at Rutgers raise some concerns, but this guy has the potential to be a special on-ball creator. These are the types of players playoff teams are built around. Scenario No. 4 With the seventh pick, the Pelicans select Jeremiah Fears, guard, Oklahoma This would be the nightmare scenario for the Pelicans. Three teams jumped ahead of them into the top four, taking Knueppel and Texas star Tre Johnson off the board. Fears would be a controversial pick in some circles, but he'd be a good option to fill the hole New Orleans has at point guard. While his efficiency was pretty bad at times in his only season at Oklahoma, Fears has a rare feel for the position and has some of the traits that point to him developing into a true floor general. Improving his outside jumper so teams have to guard him beyond the 3-point line will be key. In this scenario, one other question should come up: Would it make sense for the Pelicans to explore big-name trade candidates instead of adding another rookie with the No. 7 pick? Could they go after Ja Morant? LaMelo Ball? Or maybe even jump into the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes? Or could they attach the No. 7 pick to Williamson and go after a big name to be the new face in New Orleans? As much as there is to like about Fears, the Pelicans have to be open to all possibilities if they fall this far. Scenario No. 5 With the first pick, the Pelicans select Cooper Flagg, forward, Duke This result would turn the Pelicans' world upside down. First off, New Orleans somehow lands the No. 1 pick in a draft with a perceived generational prospect at the top once again. It happened for them in 2012 with Anthony Davis and in 2019 with Williamson. Having this type of luck for the third time in the last 15 years would be a break this otherwise-snakebitten franchise desperately needs. As interesting as that storyline would be, no one would be talking about Flagg to New Orleans with this result — at least not exclusively. How New Orleans handles the Williamson situation if Flagg is a future Pelican would become a massive topic. Do they consider the possibility of pairing Flagg and Williamson together? Would they view Flagg's arrival as a clear opportunity to move on from Williamson and start fresh? If they do move Williamson, would it be with the hopes of acquiring future assets to build around Flagg, or do they see a core of Flagg, Murphy, Jones and Missi as one good enough to become an immediate playoff contender? The Pelicans would instantly turn into one of the most intriguing teams, regardless of what happens with Williamson. The organization would be under the microscope perhaps more than ever before. First Chris Paul, then Davis, then Williamson. Will they find a way to make it work with one of the better prospects of this generation? Or will history repeat itself? The Pelicans would love to get the chance to find out. (Photo: Vincent Carchietta / USA Today network via Imagn Images)
