Grizzlies mulling options if no deal with Hollins
Karl, Gentry in mix; Joerger apparently still is front-runner
If the Grizzlies don’t come to terms with coach Lionel Hollins, they will consider former Denver coach George Karl, former Phoenix coach Alvin Gen- try and Griz assistant David Joerger for the job, according to a source.
Griz brass is expected to meet with Hollins by week’s end. However, the Griz immediately became interested in Karl, who surprisingly parted ways with Denver on Thursday following a season in which he was named NBA Coach of the Year and guided the Nuggets to the third seed in the Western Conference.
Contrary to a published report, the Griz haven’t talked to Karl but will reach out to him soon. It is unlikely that a conversation with Karl will take place before a resolution with Hollins. Veteran NBA
coaches generally do not interview for jobs already held by another coach.
Although Hollins’ contract doesn’t expire until June 30, it appears likely that he won’t return due to “philosophical differences” with the Grizzlies’ new management team, according to a source.
Memphis’ decision on whether to retain Hollins is expected any day.
Joerger is still widely believed to be the front-runner to replace Hollins because the front office views him as an up-and-coming, potential star coach. Plus, Joerger’s salary would be far less than what Hollins, Karl and Gentry would command. That’s significant because there is a belief among some people in the Griz front office that similar results could be achieved without a highpriced coach.
The Griz could become the 12th team to make a coaching change for the 2013-14 season, joining Atlanta, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, the Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Sacramento.
A source said that Denver likely will request permission to speak with Hollins and the Griz would grant it. Hollins already has permission to talk with the Clippers, but he has yet to interview. Hollins was thought to be a candidate with Brooklyn, but the Nets haven’t asked for permission to talk since they were declined 12 hours after the Griz were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals.
Karl was in the final year of his contract and wanted an extension. But the Nuggets declined his request, Yahoo Sports reported.
The Griz are intrigued by Karl in large part because Stu Lash, the director of player personnel, worked with Karl for five years in Denver. Karl reportedly will also be courted by the Clippers and the Toronto Raptors. Former Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri, the NBA’s Executive of the Year, left the Nuggets to become the Raptors’ executive vice president of basketball operations last month.
Ujiri has been cleaning house in Toronto and Raptors coach Dwane Casey has just one year left on his deal.
Karl guided the league’s third-youngest roster to a 57-win regular season before the Nuggets were ousted in the first round by the Golden State Warriors. Karl didn’t advance past the first round in eight of his nine seasons with the Nuggets.
He is revered, however, for winning with a roster that lacked an All-Star and dealt with a series of injuries to key players.
Like with Hollins, the Griz would be talking to an old-school coach who is defensive-minded. Karl, though, ran an up-tempo offense in Denver. The Nuggets led the league in scoring, fast-break production and points in the paint.
The Grizzlies’ interest in Gentry stems from his ability to blend an entertaining, productive offense with solid defense.
San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich complimented Gentry while he coached Phoenix last season.
“One thing about Phoenix is they are better defensively than in the past,” Popovich said. “They’re much more active, much more committed, they’ve taken responsibility to a much more significant degree than ever before.”
Tip- in: The Griz will hold their second predraft workout Friday morning in FedExForum with James Southerland (Syracuse), Will Clyburn (Iowa State), B.J. Young (Arkansas), Dewayne Dedmon (USC), Colton Iverson (Colorado State) and Sherwood Brown (Florida Gulf Coast) scheduled to audition.
Memphis owns three second-round selections (41st, 55th and 60th overall) in the June 27 NBA draft.