Pelicans hire Ferry despite racial comments incident

In this May 29, 2013, file photo, Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry is shown during a news conference in Atlanta. AP

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.