Griffin, the former Cleveland Cavaliers general manager, is a well-liked and well-respected executive with an often-promising track record to pad his resume, and an NBA championship that surely helped him land the same role in New Orleans.
But the disaster that is the mutual parting announced Wednesday between the Pelicans and Van Gundy — after just a single season at the helm of one of the league’s most promising and disappointing teams — isn’t just about Van Gundy’s shortcomings as a coach.
Williamson was entering his second professional season, and this one came with the promise of the rising superstar being consistently healthy.
With Van Gundy at the helm, perhaps New Orleans could bridge the gulf between Zion’s hype and promise and some kind of actual playoff return on all that hope.
And Zion, on a trip to New York City, marveled openly about what it would be like to play for the Knicks.
To start the season, the Hawks, like the Pelicans, were fronted by a young star with an interesting array of young depth around him.
But their GM, Travis Schlenk, did what Griffin would not: They pulled the plug midseason, firing Lloyd Pierce and elevating Nate McMillan.
Once you get a player of that caliber, there is much more at stake for a small market in trying to make good on that chance and simultaneously retain that player long term.
In Boston, for example, it is an assumption Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are part of the Celtics future, even with Brad Stevens moving to the front office to replace the recently-departed Danny Ainge.
There are two realities in the NBA: one for teams like the Lakers, Clippers, Celtics and Heat; the other for places like Oklahoma City, Sacramento and New Orleans.
Which means Griffin, if the Pelicans are to avoid squandering Zion and all he can mean for that organization and city, has to get these decisions right.
That’s been true, in the NFL, with Aaron Rodgers and, at least later on, those like Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson.
Griffin’s big hire back then was David Blatt, a colossal failure.
Griffin’s decision, years later, to trust New Orleans’ fragile window of opportunity to Van Gundy is certainly questionable — by their own admission that a year was enough for a quick divorce.
So David Griffin better summon the instincts of his career successes to make sure he doesn’t hire another dud of a head coach.