WHAT’S NEXT?
Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins remains on hold as team officials ponder whether to resign him or not.
Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins attended the team’s first two pre-draft workouts but he might not be present for future sessions.
Although a meeting is said to be imminent, Griz CEO Jason Levien has yet to talk to Hollins over the past week. But Hollins agreed to interviews with the Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets. He is expected to visit with those teams later this week, according to sources.
The Griz are still deciding whether to retain Hollins, whose contract expires June 30. A source cited “philosophical differences” for the schism between Hollins and Griz management.
Hollins spoke with two Clippers executives by phone last Thursday about the team’s head coaching vacancy, according to sources.
Hollins had lengthy conversations with Clippers executive vice president Andy Roeser and general manager Gary Sacks. Hollins did have conversations about his contract situation with Griz lead counsel David Mincberg late last week, but nothing will be resolved without Levien’s involvement.
The Griz granted Hollins permission to speak with any NBA team seeking to fill its head coaching vacancy.
If the Griz don’t come to terms with Hollins, they will consider former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl and former Phoenix
Suns coach Alvin Gentry, along with Griz assistant coach David Joerger as a replacement, according to a source.
Joerger is still widely believed to be the frontrunner to replace Hollins because the front office views him as an up-and-coming, potential star coach. Joerger’s salary also 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.
Under Hollins, the Griz reached the Western Conference finals after winning a franchise-record 56 games in the regular season. There they were beaten 4-0 by the San Antonio Spurs.