World News – US – Sources: Van Gundy signs deal with coach Pels

Stan Van Gundy has reached a multi-year deal to become the next head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, sources told ESPN on Wednesday

Van Gundy, former head coach of Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, becomes seventh coach in Pelicans franchise history

Pelicans and Van Gundy representative Brian Elfus reached agreement on conditions on Wednesday morning, sources say

As the New Orleans front office scoured the search for coaches, Van Gundy’s reputation as a professor of the game during his 11+ seasons as an NBA head coach stood out – an education that will become essential as New Orleans tries to blow up with a young roster

Van Gundy’s teams have always stood out on the defensive side too.In the 11 seasons he completed as head coach, Van Gundy’s teams were in the top half of the NBA in defensive standings. 10 times – including his last three seasons in Detroit His teams have finished in the top 10 in the defensive standings in eight of those seasons

His four seasons at Detroit included a dual title as president and coach, and staff decisions – particularly in the NBA Draft – played a role in limiting the team’s success. Still, Van Gundy lifted the Pistons for years in the 2016 playoff lottery with 44 wins.

Van Gundy, 61, has a 523-384 (577) regular season record and 48-43 (527) NBA playoff record He led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals

Van Gundy inherits a Pelicans team that underperformed in the NBA restart after having the easiest route, in terms of schedule, to make the playoffs Instead, New Orleans was 13th in the Western Conference after scoring 2-6 in Orlando

This core features last year’s No 1 overall pick Zion Williamson as well as last season’s Most Improved Player Brandon Ingram It also includes 2019 lottery pick Jaxson Hayes and 2019 No 17 pick. , Nickeil Alexander-Walker New Orleans could choose to extend guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart once the league year begins; both made great strides in their development last season

New Orleans also have the No. 13 picks in the upcoming 2020 Draft along with three second-round picks (No. 39, 43, and 60) This is just the start of the Pelicans’ future asset plans they have still the Los Angeles Lakers’ choices in 2021 (protected 8-30) or 2022 (unprotected), 2023 (selection swap) and either 2024 or 2025, with New Orleans able to postpone a 2024 selection swap for one year

To mingle with this young talent, the Pelicans can rely on guards Jrue Holiday and JJ Redick, the latter having played for Van Gundy in Orlando

Van Gundy will need to help guide the young Pelicans through their growing pains and into the playoffs New Orleans has made the playoffs in just two of the past nine seasons with just one series win – a first-round sweep of Portland in the 2018 playoffs

The lack of success prompted Anthony Davis to force his way out of town to the Lakers before last season, but it allowed New Orleans to speed up its rebuilding with the transportation it has received – a transport that David Griffin, the Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations, said will help New Orleans overcome the bump

Stan Van Gundy, New Orleans Pelicans, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons, Zion Williamson