How David Griffin Rebuilt the Pelicans and His World

Somewhere amid her husband’s countless roundtrips from Sonoma to Atlanta for NBA TV appearances, Meredith Hale-Griffin issued an ultimatum. A two-year sabbatical from basketball operations had deeply benefited David Griffin. Building the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 2016 championship team both accomplished his greatest achievement and tortured his soul. Now, complete rejuvenation required the ultimate change. By the end of the 2018-19 season, Meredith declared, Griffin, 45, needed to either claim the reins of another NBA front office, or the couple would be taking on a different endeavor: adopting their first child.

Seven years younger than her husband, Meredith had already suffered two…