LSU isn’t the only Louisiana institution where job security is coming under the microscope.
The winless Pelicans (0-4) are already holding discussions about whether to fire embattled coach Willie Green, according to reports.
There is belief around the league that Green has lost the locker room, with several players have appearing “disinterested and frustrated” with the team’s lineups and showing their frustration on the bench, in the locker room and in the tunnels of arenas, per ClutchPoints.
Some even believe Green may be coaching his final game this weekend with the potential for a change after this three-game road trip wraps Sunday in Oklahoma City, per reporter Shamit Dua.
New Orleans’ awful start may be overshadowed in the Bayou State by all the turmoil engulfing LSU, with head football coach Brian Kelly being fired and athletic director Scott Woodward leaving, both in part due to the governor’s influence, but the Pelicans appear to be hitting a breaking point.
The franchise’s previous top basketball executive, David Griffin, reportedly wanted to move on from Green but HoopsHype reported in April that ownership prevented such a move.
Griffin, instead, received the boot.
Joe Dumars then took over in April as the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations and opted to keep Green after a disastrous 21-61 season.
If Dumars is now having doubts, it’s possible that owner Gayle Benson may be more willing to go along with such a move this time since she’d be trusting a decision-maker she just hired compared to when she went against the purported wishes of someone she soon would be firing.
The Pelicans certainly have not played inspired basketball this season, being one of three winless teams in the sport and the only such squad in the Western Conference.
While New Orleans opened the year with close losses to the Grizzlies and Spurs, they’ve since been on the wrong end of 32-point and 34-point blowout losses to the Celtics and Nuggets, respectively.
The Pelicans are allowing 123 points per game.
ClutchPoints reported that during the 122-88 loss to Denver on Tuesday, several players shook their heads on the bench during the Nuggets’ 39-11 third-qurater run.
Polarizing franchise player Zion Williamson reportedly has also been communicating more with assistant James Borrego, who interviewed for the Knicks job this offseason and could be promoted after a firing.
The Pelicans will attempt to get into the win column for the first time Friday night when they visit the Clippers and things get no easier Sunday when they visit the defending champion Thunder.
