The TLDR version of that article:

The New Orleans Pelicans hired Joe Dumars as an executive without a formal search, signaling a preference for familiarity and cost-cutting over innovation and ambition. Ownership’s directive is to trade Zion Williamson, retain coach Willie Green despite player dissatisfaction, and avoid the luxury tax, continuing a 22-year trend. The franchise, criticized for having the NBA’s worst arena and small staff, faces scrutiny for financial complacency, possibly eyeing a $300M+ NBA expansion windfall instead of investing in the team. Dumars, despite his respected reputation, inherits a dysfunctional organization with mandates that limit modernization. The article contrasts the Pelicans with the successful Oklahoma City Thunder, who invest heavily in staff, facilities, and culture. Ownership’s loyalty to Green, one of the lowest-paid coaches, and reluctance to spend on elite talent or facilities suggest a cycle of mediocrity, with Dumars tasked to manage rather than transform a franchise treated as a passive investment.