New Orleans Pelicans Hire Troy Weaver Senior VP Basketball Operations

The New Orleans Pelicans have made significant front office changes, hiring Troy Weaver as their senior vice president of basketball operations alongside Joe Dumars. Weaver, known for his strong drafting acumen from his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Detroit Pistons, is expected to bolster the Pelicans' talent identification, crucial as the team holds the 7th overall pick in the upcoming draft. Despite a challenging tenure with the Pistons, where the team struggled with a poor record, Weaver drafted promising players like Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, which contributed to the Pistons' recent improvement. Alongside Weaver, the Pelicans also hired Jason Hervey as director of player personnel and Davis Smith, a former Michigan State player, as basketball operations manager, highlighting a broader front office restructuring. The Pelicans' recent draft success has been hampered by injuries, notably to Zion Williamson, and the new hires aim to guide the team toward sustained contention. These changes come as part of a strategy to improve the team's future prospects and build a competitive roster.