reset — a move far bigger than just firing Willie Green. With Joe

Dumars taking control after a 2–10 collapse, the message is clear: the

Pelicans are done losing the same way. The franchise is demanding

accountability, identity, and a total culture overhaul.

Cyro details:

The Real Problem: It’s not just X’s and O’s — it’s a broken culture.

Defensive inconsistency, poor chemistry, and soft habits doomed the

Green era. The front office wants a leader who will hold stars and

rookies alike accountable every night.

Roster Construction:

Zion Williamson is the focal point — but he must evolve. The new staff

must manage his touches, conditioning, and buy-in through “load

distribution,” keeping him dominant and durable.

Jordan Poole is the offensive catalyst who must toggle between scorer

and facilitator.

Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen bring offensive upside but defensive

learning curves.

Kevon Looney is the stabilizing anchor needed to restore physicality and

defensive discipline.

The Coaching Search:

Cyro evaluates every candidate:

James Borrego – Strong offensive mind, but represents continuity when

the franchise demands disruption.

Taylor Jenkins – High pace, poor defensive scheme; too risky.

Kevin Ollie – Culture-first coach, but unproven at the NBA level.

Michael Malone – The perfect fit. A proven champion who builds cultures

on defense, accountability, and structure. His Jokic blueprint

translates seamlessly to Zion and the current roster.

The Malone Plan:

Phase One: Culture Shock — immediate accountability and defensive

emphasis.

Staffing: Keep Borrego as associate head coach/offensive coordinator.

The Vision: Build a top-10 defense within three seasons while managing

Zion’s workload and unlocking his full potential.

Bottom Line:

The Pelicans don’t need another rebuild — they need a standard. Michael

Malone is that standard. His arrival would turn the Pelicans from a

soft, underachieving roster into a structured, disciplined,

playoff-caliber unit built on accountability and defensive toughness.

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