New Orleans Sports Today

New Orleans Sports News Continuously Updated

Pelicans’ Joe Dumars Responds Directly To Critics

by

This offseason, the New Orleans Pelicans most important decision was to hire Joe Dumars as their new executive vice president. A former NBA star who has been enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame, Dumars left his job as the NBA office’s executive vice president of basketball operations in order to return to Louisiana for the first time since 2018, when he completed his degree at McNeese State. He’ll now work for an NBA franchise for the first time since 2022, the final year of his three-year stint with the Sacramento Kings.

Though it’s been just three months since his hire, the 62-year-old is already under fire.

Pelicans’ Joe Dumars Responds Directly To Critics

Of course, Dumars’s background isn’t what made his hire so important. Though Gayle Benson still has the final say as the team’s governor, he’s all but the team’s chief decision-maker. Thus, it was his choice to hold onto 2019 No. 1 pick Zion Williamson and head coach Willie Green. He’s the one who swapped out CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole.

Dumars is also responsible for what became a heavily criticized draft night deal.

Jun 25, 2025; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Derik Queen reacts on stage after being selected as the 13th pick by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Entranced by Maryland center Derik Queen, the Pelicans traded the 23rd pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for the 13th overall pick. Though New Orleans moved up 10 spots, it was considered an overpay by executives around the league, according to In the N.O.’s Shamit Dua. Multiple appeared to be of the belief that Pelicans would be one of the worst teams in the NBA next season.

‘I Believe In My Guys’

In an interview with Andscape’s Marc J. Spears, Dumars refused to shy away from the conversation. In fact, he approached the discourse with level-headed nuance.

“I don’t mind the criticism,” he tells Spears. “People say they don’t mind. But I really don’t mind. When you’re running a franchise, you make a determination of what you think you need to start growing your franchise. The opportunity presented itself that we could get two lottery picks, and to do that, you’re going to have to give up something. We gave up what we thought it would take to get these two lottery picks and we did.”

“Now, I really don’t mind the criticism, the second guessing. I’ve done this long enough to understand that it just comes with the business. It’s just the sports world we live in. But we’re building a team to play it out. I believe in my guys. We’ll see how it plays out.”

Dumars also addressed his outlook of and for both Queen and Jeremiah Fears, who they drafted seventh overall.

“Both of them have potential to grow into great players,” he says. “But I also wanted to build a team that didn’t put all the pressure on them that they have to come in and prove that they’re great in Day 1. I want them to be able to develop into great players without trying to force it from Day 1. It’s why you see the roster built the way we did.”

The Last Word

Ultimately, the two questions that matter most with regard to the draft night trade are:

(1) How will the Pelicans fare next season?

(2) How will Queen pan out?

In terms of how New Orleans will play, it’s worth noting that the Pelicans are 109-105 with Williamson. That’s not a world-beating record. Nonetheless, as long as he’s healthy, they’ll likely at least be a middling team. So far as that relates to the 2026 NBA Draft, that means the pick the Pelicans traded to the Hawks will be in the 18-23 range, not a top-three pick.

With that in mind, they’ve only added to their talent base. Whatever Dejounte Murray gives them after his Achilles injury is less of a necessity than a luxury. Essentially, McCollum and Kelly Olynyk were replaced by Poole, Fears and Queen. Even if they don’t come out the gates on fire, the Pelicans should actually be better than last season.

As far as Queen goes?

There are good reasons to question his floor and ceiling, such as his conditioning level and lack of explosiveness. However, he’s one of the most skilled big men in his draft class, and that should remain the case.

In fact, he’s averaging 14.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 block per game in the Las Vegas Summer League. He’s also shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the arc.

In the end, there are just as many reasons to be as confident about Queen as there are to be doubtful.

© Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

The post Pelicans’ Joe Dumars Responds Directly To Critics appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.