The New Orleans Pelicans fired head coach Willie Green today after a truly horrible start to the season.
The Pelicans are 2-10 through 12 games and lie at the very bottom of the Western Conference standings. They have disappointed on both ends, particularly on defense, despite having a pair of brilliant perimeter defenders in Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones.
This was the right move – Green had lost the locker room and is partly to blame for the team’s defensive struggle. This, unfortunately, is bad news for the Atlanta Hawks, who traded for the rights to New Orleans' unprotected first round pick this year.
As of November 15th, the day Green was fired, this trade has looked like one of the biggest draft night heists in NBA history. Atlanta traded the 13th pick (Derek Queen) for the 23rd pick (Asa Newell) and a 2026 swap between NOP and MIL. Sure, Queen has impressed despite the Pelicans’ overall woes, but an upgrade from the late first to the late lottery is simply not worth the price paid: the fourth-best lottery odds in one of the best draft classes this century.
Green’s firing brings bittersweet news to the Hawks
There are two ways to view this move. On the one hand, Green’s firing officially confirms that there is real dysfunction in New Orleans. With Green out, however, the Pelicans probably have an improved season outlook moving forward.
Firing a coach has an instant, transformative impact on a team's morale. If the rumors swirling around the Pelicans are true, Green’s absence could be the spark the Pelicans need to rise from the bottom of the pack to play in contention. They have the talent to be somewhat competitive, with Zion Williamson, Murphy, and Jones leading their exciting prospects at the one and five: Jeremiah Fears and Queen.
Unless the Pelicans miraculously cobble together a 50+ win season, this trade will still go down as a win for Atlanta. Queen looks good, but so does Newell, and any lottery pick is always appreciated. After all, the Hawks could use a proper center prospect to fill Kristaps Porzingis's minutes eventually.
But part of what made the trade so special is the high-end upside for Atlanta. In a draft class where three players, Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, and Cameron Boozer, have legitimate first overall pick upside. The New Orleans pick could be a franchise-changing asset if the balls bounce Atlanta’s way in the lottery.
Hope is not lost for Hawks fans, as the Pelicans could continue to spiral out of control this season. But with Williamson projected to return soon and Green out, the Pelicans could quickly tank the value of Atlanta’s best draft asset.