Per NBC’s Fletcher Mackel, Boston Celtics assistant general manager Mike Zarren will be in consideration for the New Orleans Pelicans general manager role after the Pelicans fired their previous general manager, Dell Demps, on Friday.
Demps’ tenure in New Orleans will be marked by underwhelming success and it’s the primary reason that the Pelicans have opted to move in a different direction. The drama-filled Anthony Davis saga has also played its part and as New Orleans’ lackluster play was the catalyst for his trade request, Demps’ shortcomings as a general manager can be seen as the source of the Pelicans problems in general.
New Orleans’ interest in Celtics general manager Mike Zarren makes plenty of sense for a team that has an eye on Boston’s potential trade package for Davis. Hiring Zarren could improve the speed and quality of negotiations, possibly netting the Pelicans a highly coveted cornerstone piece in Celtics forward Jayson Tatum.
However, from Zarren’s side, the move doesn’t offer much aside from a promotion. He’ll be walking into a volatile situation and his first move will likely shake the very foundations of the franchise. Considering that he turned down the general manager job with the Philadelphia 76ers — now a marquee Eastern Conference team — in 2013, before Philadelphia even knew of “The Process,” Zarren may not find the job in New Orleans to be a better opportunity with the team needing to trade their best player.
Make no doubt about it though. Zarren, who specializes in salary cap administration and statistical analysis for team strategy and player evaluation, would be a phenomenal hire for a team that will be retooling without Davis and possibly even rebuilding should they choose — or have to — move a stellar point guard in Jrue Holiday.
Conversely, it would be a major blow to the Celtics front office, a franchise that’s done well with the talent they’ve acquired through the draft, free agency and trades and one he’s been a part of for 14 years.
Zarren likely won’t accept any interviews with the team until Boston’s season is over but Celtics fans should keep an eye out for possible moves in Boston’s front office in the offseason.
