ESPN's Shams Charania reported that Basketball Hall of Famer Joe Dumars is a "serious front-runner to become the lead basketball executive" for the Pelicans. Charania added that the two sides "are expected to engage in conversations to finalize a deal by the end of the week."

The New Orleans Pelicans are finalizing a deal to hire Hall of Famer Joe Dumars as its new president of basketball operations, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported Tuesday. The news comes just one day after the Pelicans fired David Griffin from his role as executive vice president of basketball operations.

Dumars has been working internally for the NBA as the league's head of basketball operations. The 61-year-old Dumars has not held a position running basketball operations for a fr