The New Orleans Pelicans have been granted permission to interview several GM candidates, including Trajan Langdon from the Brooklyn Nets and Gersson Rosas from the Houston Rockets.

Danny Ferry is currently operating as the interim Pelicans' GM after Dell Demps was fired shortly after the trade deadline.

The Los Angeles Lakers never made an offer to Julius Randle in restricted free agency.

Luke Walton and his coaching staff preferred the Lakers re-sign Randle.

Randle signed a two-year, $18 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. Randle was won over by how the Pelicans appeared to really want him on their team, which wasn't a feeling he received from the Lakers.

Jrue Holiday underwent successful surgery this morning to repair a core muscle injury.

Dr. William Meyers performed the surgery in Philadelphia.

Holiday’s expected timetable for return to basketball activities is approximately six weeks.

Gayle Benson went on the record to state she will not sell or relocate the New Orleans Pelicans.

“There is no way that I am going to sell that team -- ever,” Benson said.

“I value the Pelicans as much as I do the Saints, and I don’t look at myself as an owner of the teams,” Benson said. “I feel like it is an asset that I am protecting for the city.”

Benson is in the process of completing a succession plan for both the Pelicans and the New Orleans Saints.

“The owners of both leagues needed to know what we were going to do,” Benson said. “(NFL and NBA officials) have been involved, and they know what it is. It’s all under lock and key and it’s going to be great.”

Benson assumed sole ownership of the teams when her husband, longtime Saints owner Tom Benson, died last year in March. 

“I’ve said it a million times, I don’t know how many more times I can say it, ‘We are committed to the market. We are committed to winning in basketball,'” Lauscha said. “If anyone’s saying anything other than that then that is an agenda that they are pressing. It’s either ill-informed or something that they are trying to push.”

The New Orleans Pelicans have claimed Christian Wood off waivers. New Orleans has waived Jason Smith to create a roster spot for Wood.

Wood was waived this week by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Wood appeared in 13 games with the Bucks.

Kobe Bryant publicly endorsed trading the Los Angeles Lakers' young players for Anthony Davis.

The Lakers had included Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram in trade talks with the New Orleans Pelicans for Davis.

"Kuzma, Lonzo, Ingram ... Are all three better than Anthony Davis? No no!. Ciao! Bye! 

"Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the world. Not just now but in history. What are we talking about? If you can acquire Anthony Davis, you do it. If not, agree. We have three players who are very young and who work hard. They are intelligent and must be developed. But if you can acquire Anthony Davis ... yes!"

Chris Paul fell to No. 4 in the 2005 NBA Draft as the Atlanta Hawks picked Marvin Williams Jr. at No. 2. Paul had expected to go to the Hawks.

"I got up at the draft," Paul said of when the second pick was about to be announced. "They pretty much told me they were picking me. I found a house (in Gwinnett County) and everything."

The Utah Jazz then picked Deron Williams at No. 3 and Paul was selected by the then-New Orleans Hornets at No. 4.

Alvin Gentry said that the additions of Enes Kanter and Rodney Hood make the Portland Trail Blazers a different team than the one that the New Orleans Pelicans swept in the first-round of the playoffs last season.

Gentry added that trapping Damian Lillard with double-teams won't be as effective as it was last year due to their new playmakers.

“I still think you have to try and get the ball out of Dame and CJ’s (McCollum) hands, but it’s a little bit different now that they have added Rodney Hood to the mix, and even (Enes) Kanter. With those two guys, they have really improved their team...They have more weapons," said Gentry.

Lillard, who said he was surprised with how aggressive the Pelicans trapped him in the series, said he worked on speeding up his decision-making on the ball. 

“First time I played them this year, I was like, ‘That is not happening this time. When I got the ball, I was coming off fast — and now they were the ones shocked. Instead of me being the one off balance, now they were off balance,” added Lillard. 

A trade between the New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers involving Anthony Davis is very unlikely to take place, according to Marc J. Spears.

"I have been told that there’s no way Anthony Davis is coming here, through the Pelicans. They’re just not going to do it," said Spears while filming for ESPN.

Michael Wilbon added that he also heard a similar sentiment. 

The Pelicans and Lakers each accused the other team of leaking information during their trade negotiations before the deadline, with Magic Johnson adding that the Pelicans of not negotiating in good faith. 

The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to increase their search for a new general manager over the next week.

The Pelicans have hired a search firm who is expected to provide a list of 5-10 recommended candidates next week.

The Pelicans will then conduct interviews and pick finalists.

Dell Demps was fired as general manager in February.