The New Orleans Pelicans are approaching a final decision on their next head coach, with the search narrowing to four primary candidates as the franchise moves through the final stage of its process ahead of the 2026 offseason.
The front office led by Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver has reportedly focused its attention on Darvin Ham, Steve Hetzel, Sean Sweeney, and Rajon Rondo as the final group under consideration. Interim coach James Borrego was removed from contention earlier in May.
The process has stretched longer than initially expected, with league reporting indicating the organization is still completing final evaluations before making an official hire. According to reporting from Will Guillory, the expectation around the league is that the Pelicans aim to finalize their decision early this week.
Additional context from reporting by Marc Stein on The Stein Line suggests the timing of the process has been influenced in part by broader coaching market dynamics. League chatter during the Chicago draft combine indicated a longstanding organizational interest in former Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley, with the Pelicans believed to be carefully managing timing as part of their evaluation phase.
Each finalist presents a different coaching profile. Ham brings prior head coaching experience with the Los Angeles Lakers and is viewed as a candidate with established locker room leadership. Hetzel has built a reputation as a detail-oriented assistant with experience across multiple NBA systems, including time with the Brooklyn Nets.
Sweeney is recognized for defensive structure and long-term assistant experience within strong coaching environments in Milwaukee and San Antonio. Rondo represents a contrasting option, with limited coaching experience but strong on-court intelligence and significant support among some fans and observers.
New Orleans enters the decision period with a roster built around Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, supported by a young core that includes Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen. The coaching hire is expected to shape the next phase of development for a team aiming to convert regular-season production into deeper playoff consistency.
