Pelicans should take the interim off James Borrego and give him a chance

I’d wait to the other side of the all star break. Everyone is excited because of the winning streak but let’s see how the team continues to develop.

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he will be the coach for 50 more games. sounds like a good chance for him to me

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I get it but he seems to be a good job. I’m just thinking if he keeps winning before the season is up other bad teams may come after him. Why not give a 2 or 3 year “ show me “ deal that hopefully is team friendly. Realistically what coaches are out there and come to New Orleans that could turn it around?

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because its not necessary right now, and there is zero upside to the team vs the current interim tag. how do you know there wont be a better option? the curse of this team has been eliminating options for no reason

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This.

I love what Borrego has done with the team, he seems to have their attention and theyre playing unselfish good team ball. The offense looks the best it's looked in literal years.

With that being said,

Unless Borrego goes on an absolute tear and they win the 1st round against the 2 seed, you should do everything you can to get Mike Malone, and have Borrego as the backup.

It's a legitimate consideration.

On one hand, it's a pretty small sample size to base a longterm hire on, especially one so fundamental to the franchise's future.

On the other hand, the change in the team has been noticeable almost from day one and now the results are at least starting to show up. The offense is transformed, the rotations are much better and the in-game adjustments/game management is miles better than with Green.

Add to it that Borrego has been a legitimate candidate for several head coaching slots the past two years, including with the Suns, Cavs and Lakers, and you have to consider how long to play this out at the risk of losing him to a bigger market team.

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They’re not paying this kind of money for a coach.

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If Borrego gets this team to the playoffs theyre making money again, and Gayle may consider Mike for the right price. But then again Borrego would be less expensive and the team has already bought in

If Borrego gets this team to the playoffs and you don’t hire him as the full time coach there would be a revolt from the players and fans.

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As a fan it’s easy to say this, fact is the Pelicans are bottom 3 in league revenue every year, they’re not paying 10 million a year for a coach. Gayle doesn’t have a shitload of liquid assets like other owners do to be able to lose money on the teams.

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stop saying this.

The only way we'd ever lose money is if we were paying repeater taxes.
Our estimated EBITDA was $54M in 2024, and estimated at $77M last year.


Only two teams didn't turn a profit in 2024, the Clippers and Bucks, and that's b/c of their enormous tax bills while not having anywhere near the revenue of other big tax teams like Boston and GSW


There are plenty of teams hovering around $300-330M in revenue, and all are very profitable now b/c of the new tv deals and revenue sharing.
2024 Revenue
Grizzlies $299M
Hornets $304M
Pistons $306M
Pelicans $311M
Magic $317M
Thunder $321M
Wolves $328M

Average profits for those 7 teams: $71M with the lowest being the Grizzlies at $46M

Clippers and Bucks revenue was at $350M while their tax bills were $142M and $52M.

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Add to it that Borrego has been a legitimate candidate for several head coaching slots the past two years, including with the Suns, Cavs and Lakers, and you have to consider how long to play this out at the risk of losing him to a bigger market team.

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that’s the point I was trying to make