good Sunday evening, everyone. I'm wds you sports anchor Fletcher Mackel. And
because the Saints headed by this week, coupled with the fact that the L S U
football team had a game postponed because their opponent, the University
of Florida, is dealing with a covert 19 outbreak, we start with the New Orleans
pelicans are Cities NBA franchise in the midst of trying to find its next
head coach, and it seems like they're getting very close to doing just that.
It could be N B a veteran Stan Van Gundy or up and coming assistant coach
Wes Unseld Jr. Joining us now to talk more about the Pelicans coaching search.
Our good friend Jake Madison from the podcast locked on Pell's Jake, What do
you think when I say Stan Van Gundy in New Orleans Pelicans, I think he's
going to be the guy. What do you think? I think he's the betting favorite, but
I wouldn't want to say anything is definitive just yet. He's certainly
kind of fits the mold of the head coach that they're looking for a guy with
experience who brings instant credibility to this organization who
has a strong personality that may be just gets a little bit more out of this.
This team in these players. Then former head coach Alvin Gentry is able to dio
he's got a pretty good track record wherever he's been. Taking the Orlando
Magic to four seasons of 50 plus wins, obviously was good with Miami Heat
before being replaced there, where they then immediately want a title. I'll
step in and be able to get a lot more out of these guys. And you've heard J.
J. Redick pelicans guard absolutely rave about him and say he wouldn't be
the player he was today if it wasn't for Stan Van Gundy and coaching him
early on in his tenure. I think the publicans also just want to go through
their interviews. We've heard that some of the names being tie loose Stan Van
Gundy. But if some of the other finalists are assistant coaches around
the league, maybe they also want to interview them. To be able to hire them
is assisting. Coaches were expecting there to be some turnover on this step.
It's likely that Chris Finch is going to be gone, whether he becomes the
Indiana Pacers head coach or he ends up jumping ship to another team. You want
to replace that guy. And maybe you can snag one of these top assistants who
misses out on a head coaching gig and ends up coaching here in New Orleans.
Jake. Sort of a philosophical question, if you will. Some have created the
narrative that David Griffin, who is definitely an Alfa type executive,
needs someone who is. I hate to use the term submissive to him, but that he can
control. I don't know if I believe that. I feel like he wants someone that buys
into his vision, but that he wants a strong leader. He wants someone that
can command this team. Is that fair to say? That's why I think for all the
people that are saying Van Gundy and Griffin may not work together, I think
they could actually be a pretty happy marriage. Is that fair to say, I
definitely think he's looking for a guy who's on the same page is him, and I
think that's one of the reasons you're seeing. This interview process takes so
long they want to make sure they end up with the right guy that is going to
compliment David Griffin and work well with David Griffin and not potentially
clash with him like we kind of solved with Alvin Gentry and David Griffin,
which is what led to Gentry being fired. I think they want a guy that they have
no concerns about that's gonna step into this organization and fit into his
role. Maybe in the past. Stan Van Gundy has much more power when he was
president of basketball operations in Detroit, but he failed it that in fact,
there's been no head coach and president combination that's really
worked. I think stand and gun. He probably wants to step in and just do
his job, which is coach these guys and get the most out of them because
they're being so thorough in this interview process. I don't really have
any concerns about what's going to come out after this Jake final question here.
I'm gonna put you on the spot. I think in the next 5 to 7 days, Stan Van Gundy
will be named the Pelicans new head coach. How do you feel about that?
Who's your guy and why? Yeah, I think the safe bet to say right now is Stan
Van Gundy, and certainly it appears that it's heading that direction. The
pelicans want someone with experience. They want someone who could immediately
step in and command the attention of the locker room. And I think he's the
guy for that. And I think it would be a great hire from New Orleans. Jake
Madison locked on pills Thank you so very much for your time. Tremendous
insight, as always.