The Pelicans' New Basketball Operations Consultant

As Troy Weaver runs day-to-day operations, the unexplained involvement of Joe Dumars' son adds a new layer of ambiguity to the team's chain of command

For weeks, a mysterious figure within the New Orleans Pelicans’ inner circle confounded staff and rival executives alike. Jordan Dumars, the 34-year-old son of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars, has been a constant presence on team planes, in practices, and in high-level meetings. Yet his name was absent from the staff directory and his role was never announced, leaving employees and the league to speculate about his influence.

This situation occurs within a unique front-office power structure. Multiple sources describe a hierarchy where owner Gayle Benson, who hired Joe Dumars without a formal search, has taken a hands-off approach. Benson has publicly stated her philosophy, telling The Times-Picayune, “I hired Joe Dumars... When he makes a decision, that’s up to him. That’s why I hired him. I trust Joe... I’ve left that in his hands.” This has effectively granted him almost total authority over the franchise, provided he stay within financial limits. In this structure, Joe Dumars operates with the autonomy of a de facto owner, while Senior Vice President, Troy Weaver, handles the day-to-day responsibilities of the general manager role. The regular presence of Jordan Dumars, however, introduces a third, undefined element into this leadership dynamic.

According to team sources, Jordan Dumars is a recent but constant presence, accompanying the team on its plane, attending practices, and being in meetings. Officials from rival teams have also noted his conspicuous presence within the Pelicans’ traveling party on the road. Sources describe Joe Dumars, Troy Weaver, and Jordan Dumars as being “attached at the hip,” forming an insular leadership circle that operates separately from the rest of the basketball operations staff. This isolation, they say, has fostered a culture with no clear, established lines of communication from management downward, leaving many employees in the dark about the team’s direction and decision-making processes.

In The N.O. reached out to the Pelicans regarding the nature of Jordan Dumars’ role and relationship with the organization. That role, the Pelicans confirmed, is “Basketball Operations Consultant.” The team acknowledged he has been involved in basketball strategy meetings and conversations, as per the nature of his role. When asked why Jordan Dumars was left off the team listing, a spokesperson for the organization admitted that was an oversight the team would correct. Edit: A team representative contacted In The N.O. after the story was published to clarify that they do not list ANY consultants in the team directory as per team policy. The initial comment of the omission needing to be corrected was premature.

This oversight stands in contrast to other family members employed by the franchise. The Pelicans’ official directory lists Troy Weaver Jr., the son of Senior Vice President Troy Weaver, as a regional scout. Prior to the inquiry, no such public record existed for Jordan Dumars, whose involvement with the team also had not been announced.

Jordan Dumars’ background includes being a former walk-on for the University of Michigan basketball team and a previous role at Compass Management Group, LLC, a firm that provides comprehensive business management services, including financial planning and investment oversight for clients. This professional history does not clearly align with a standard basketball operations role, leaving his specific consulting function with the Pelicans unclear.

Despite the confirmation of title and role from the team, the addition of Jordan Dumars points to a deeper issue: a leadership culture that operates on informal, personal channels rather than transparent, structured processes. For staff, this reinforces a perception that influence is not always tied to publicly defined roles, creating uncertainty about how decisions are truly made and who holds accountable authority.