Griffin has also cycled through coaches in his role in New Orleans. When he took over the team, he inherited Alvin Gentry as his head coach. He fired him after one season, hired Stan Van Gundy, and and then fired him after only one year. Green has been his head coach ever since, and in that time, the Pelicans have not won a playoff series.

According to NBA reporter Marc Stein, "This is [executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin's] sixth season in charge and there are some in New Orleans, league sources say, who are undeniably bracing for his exit... with [head coach Willie Green's] status also tenuous."