According to ESPN Andscape scribe Marc J. Spears, the New Orleans Pelicans “have hired Troy Weaver as their senior vice president of basketball operations.”
To start, it’s important to mention that Weaver has a high-ranking but subordinate position, as he’ll “report to new Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars.” Thus, he’ll be one of the prominent voices in the front office but he won’t be the final decision-maker nor is his vision of the team the most important. Pelicans principal owner Gayle Benson could be considered the de facto leader of the franchise as she’s the one who cuts the checks and has the ultimate power. However, the team’s direction will be overseen by Dumars.
With that in mind, the role that Weaver is likely to play is the one that he’s actually thrived in; that of a talent scout.
The Significance Of Pelicans’ Troy Weaver Hire
Utah Jazz
It starts with his beginnings, as he spent three years with the Utah Jazz as their head scout. Between 2004 to 2007, the Jazz drafted notable players like Deron Williams, Paul Millsap, C.J. Miles and Ronnie Brewer. Williams and Millsap would go on to earn seven combined All-Star selections, though five of them would come when they were no longer members of the organization.
(In 2007-08, Weaver was promoted to Director of Player Personnel. That season, Utah traded for Kyle Korver, who was in just his fifth NBA season.)
Oklahoma City Thunder
From 2008 to 2017, Weaver was the Oklahoma City Thunder’s vice president and assistant general manager. This was a pivotal time for the organization, as the franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics had recently relocated and re-branded. In that nine-year span, the Thunder achieved plenty of success, largely due to the quartet of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Serge Ibaka.
When Weaver was hired by the Thunder, Durant was already onboard. However, in the time that Weaver served as their vice president and assistant general manager, the team drafted Westbrook, Ibaka, Harden, Reggie Jackson, and Steven Adams. While Sam Presti has been credited for laying the franchise’s foundation, Weaver’s background suggests he was a significant influence on their draft decisions.
(In 2017-18, Weaver was the team’s Vice President of Basketball Operations. In the 2017 NBA Offseason, Oklahoma City traded for All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony.)
Detroit Pistons to Washington Wizards
Following his tenure with the Thunder, Weaver was hired by the Detroit Pistons to be their general manager. Under his command, the organization drafted the likes of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Ausar Thompson. They also completed draft night trades for Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren. Each of those players are still considered to be core players; many of them starters.
However, Weaver’s flaws were clear as day. He constantly identified promising young prospects. Yet, he didn’t surround them with the right mix of players, either in terms of experience or skillset. This led to him being removed from his post last summer, in which he was replaced by Trajan Langdon.
It didn’t take him long to land a new gig. In fact, the Washington Wizards hired him as a consultant just ahead of the impending draft. In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Wizards’ draft class was headlined by Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George. Each of them have a strong shot at making the 2024-25 NBA All-Rookie team, especially Sarr and Carrington.
New Orleans Pelicans
Weaver’s reputation should be treated with nuance.
He’s more or less a draft expert but doesn’t have the same savviness as a team-builder. With that in mind, the 2025 NBA Draft will be one of the most important in franchise history. Currently projected to land the No. 4 pick, they’ll have their highest selection since 2019, when they drafted Zion Williamson first overall.
The tricky part is determining whether Williamson will be around for much longer, an answer which could dramatically affect their draft strategy. To that point, so could CJ McCollum‘s defensive limitations and expiring contract. Even their point guard position is still questioned, as Dejounte Murray suffered an Achilles tear while enduring roughest performance of his career.
Dumars should make the final decisions with regard to those players’ futures. Nonetheless, Weaver’s scouting should come in handy to determine the best replacements or understudies for each of them.
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