When David Griffin was hired as the new president of basketball operations in New Orleans, he talked about investing in critical areas for the Pelicans: Analytics, player development, and the athletic training side.
Marc Stein of the New York Times reports Griffin is making significant strides in at least one of those areas.
Also out of Phoenix: League sources say that the Pelicans have successfully recruited noted Suns athletic trainer Aaron Nelson to make the move to New Orleans
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 30, 2019
Nelson has been a fixture with the Suns' vaunted athletic training staff for two decades and was a prime target for new Pelicans EVP of Basketball Operations David Griffin, who previously worked alongside Nelson first-hand in Phoenix
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) April 30, 2019
The Suns have had a reputation for prolonging players careers and keeping them healthy because of their athletic training staff and conditioning programs. Bringing some of that magic to New Orleans would boost the organization’s reputation among players and agents.
It is going to take time and a lot of small steps to turn things around in New Orleans. This is one of those steps.