NBA: Pelicans hire Ferry despite racial comments incident

CLEVELAND - JUNE 02:  General Manager Danny Ferry of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after the Cavs won 98-82 to win the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on June 2, 2007 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Danny Ferry
CLEVELAND – JUNE 02: General Manager Danny Ferry of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after the Cavs won 98-82 to win the Detroit Pistons in Game Six of the Eastern Conference Finals during the 2007 NBA Playoffs on June 2, 2007 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.  (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Danny Ferry, embroiled in a racial comments controversy that led to his leaving the NBA Atlanta Hawks a year ago, has been hired by the rival New Orleans Pelicans as a special advisor.

Pelicans general manager Dell Demps announced the move on Wednesday.

“Danny’s experience, insight and achievements will be a welcomed addition to the Pelicans as we continue our quest to improve the team,” Demps said.

In 2014, Ferry repeated several insensitive racial remarks from a scouting report on British player Luol Deng in a teleconference with owners and other team executives.

That led him to take a leave of absence in September 2014 and to resign as the Hawks general manager last June after three years in the post.

Ferry was vice president of basketball operations for the San Antonio Spurs from 2010-2012 and from 2005-2010 he served as general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, who went 272-138 during his tenure with a trip to the 2007 NBA Finals and the NBA’s best regular-season record in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

js/rcw
© 1994-2016 Agence France-Presse