New Orleans also made a blockbuster trade for point guard Dejounte Murray in July 2024, acquiring him from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, Larry Nance Jr., Cody Zeller and two future first-round draft picks.

Just before the draft, Griffin traded a disgruntled Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers for a number of players, including Lonzo Ball, and the No. 4 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. With the top pick, the Pelicans took Duke big man Zion Williamson. After trading the fourth pick, the Pelicans took Jaxson Hayes at No. 8 overall.

The New Orleans Pelicans have fired basketball operations chief David Griffin. The move ends a six-year chapter during which the club drafted former Duke star Zion Williamson but still struggled to win consistently with three different coaches.