On an episode of Dan Le Batard and Friends' STUpodity, former Pelicans head coach Stan Van Gundy publicly suggested that assistant Fred Vinson should be the team's next head coach.

"If it were me, I'd stay in house and go with Fred Vinson," Van Gundy said, "because I worry about these young guys [who] are now on their third coach in three years."

The Pelicans parted ways with Van Gundy after just one season with the team, and moved on from Alvin Gentry in the previous offseason. Vinson has been on staff under both regimes and with the franchise as an assistant since 2010. Van Gundy added that a revolving door of systems, terms and expectations can negatively impact a young roster.

"[Vinson] was with Alvin, so he knows what the players went through then. He was with me, so he knows what the players went through then. He doesn't have to re-do everything, and can stay with some stuff that is familiar to guys to ease the transition, while at the same time, putting his own imprint on the team."

The Pelicans finished 31-41 last season.