Interviews done, so Griz brass needs only to pick a coach
There was only one other occasion when the Memphis Grizzlies made an extensive search to fill their head coaching vacancy.
In 2007, the franchise talked to an experienced, Hall-of-Fame caliber coach and seriously considered a highly regarded, up-andcomer looking for his first chance to sit in the big chair on an NBA bench.
Legendary coach Larry Brown interviewed for the job. Griz ownership also gave a hard look at former Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni and University of Florida coach Billy Donovan.
Iavaroni, labeled the league’s hot, young assis- tant at the time, was hired and lasted just 1½ seasons.
It’s been six years and a dramatic ownership change since then, but the Griz are at a familiar crossroads. The franchise is looking for a head coach from a pool of similar candidates after deciding not to renew Lionel Hollins’ contract following a run to the Western Conference finals.
The search is comprehensive, and Griz CEO Jason Levien is doubling down on the choice between a seasoned head coach and an unproven candidate.
Levien is considering four candidates to replace Hollins. Former Denver Nuggets coach George Karl and former Phoenix
Suns coach Alvin Gentry are veterans who have garnered success, earning solid reputations for their basketball acumen and communication skills over decades in the NBA.
David Joerger, the Grizzlies’ lead assistant under Hollins, and Ed Pinckney, an assistant with the Chicago Bulls, are intriguing to Griz management based on behind-the-scenes contributions that are perceived to be of head coaching quality.
Levien conducted final interviews last week. Gentry and Pinckney were the only two candidates to meet with Griz brass for a second time.
There is no indication that the process will end anytime soon, which means the Griz likely will enter Thursday’s NBA draft without a head coach.
“It’s better to make a right decision than an early one,” Levien said. “We’ve spent a considerable amount of productive time on the coaching process over the last 12-14 days. We think we’ve made progress in thinking through what our alternatives are and what our path is for achieving sustained success with a multiyear window.”
Success on the court, not in a press conference room, is how whoever succeeds Hollins and Griz brass will be judged. The franchise’s record improved every season under Hollins, culminating in its first trip to the conference finals.
In that vein, how should Griz fans view the candidates?
This much is true: Any choice will be considered a gamble:
GEORGE KARL
The case for: He is a future Hall of Fame coach who is about 200 wins shy of the record for coaching victories. Karl guided the Seattle SuperSonics to the NBA Finals and then led the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets to their respective conference finals. He is a defensive-minded coach first who has demonstrated a willingness to play fast and free to deliver a high-scoring offense. His résumé includes an ability to develop and reach young players as well as manage All Stars. He would be the “wow” hire with great credibility as the reigning Coach of the Year. Grizzlies assistant coach David Joerger (right, with former Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins) knows the current players and front office staff, and management could sell his hiring by pointing out the continuity factor.
The case against: Karl advanced past the first round in Denver just once in nine seasons. Plus, Karl’s recent exit interview with the Denver Post was perhaps most revealing. He sounded like a coach who had issues with Nuggets management that were eerily similar to the reasons the Griz parted ways with Hollins. Karl, too, likes to control who plays at all times, isn’t as much into analytics as a new generation of NBA brass would like and often rubs bosses the wrong way with his candor in the media. Sound familiar?
ALVIN GENTRY
The case for: Taking Phoenix to the Western Conference finals in 2010 is Gentry’s biggest accomplishment. The Suns advanced that far in part because of Gentry’s attention to detail on both ends of the court. Phoenix still played fast but improved defensively under Gentry. He is also considered one of the most imaginative offensive coaches and an excellent communicator. The NBA community views Gentry as a player’s coach and someone who connects well with management, media types and people in the community. Gentry’s experience includes four head coaching stints. He also worked under Larry Brown, Doug Collins, Gregg Popovich and Mike D’Antoni.
The case against: Critics look at Gentry’s overall coaching record, which is 335-370 in his time with Miami, Detroit, the Los Angeles Clippers and Phoenix. Gentry’s team missed the playoffs in four of the six full seasons he was a head coach. The Suns fired Gentry last season after a 13-28 start.
DAVID JOERGER
The case for: Hollins elevated Joerger to lead assistant before the 2011-12 season and empowered the young coach with more responsibility every year. Joerger is most familiar with the cur- rent roster and front office staff. Griz management could sell continuity with a Joerger appointment. Joerger also implemented Hollins’ defensive principles as the Griz made significant strides defensively in conjunction with the arrival of Tony Allen the past few seasons. Joerger is also notable for being a championship head coach in the minor leagues before joining the Griz. He won five titles combined during stints in the NBA Development League, International Basketball Association and Continental Basketball Association.
The case against: Joerger has never been a head coach in the NBA. The one time he sat at the helm was Nov. 5, 2010. Joerger presided over a 123-118 double overtime loss to Phoenix, and the Griz led by 18 points in that game. Joerger coached the game so that Hollins could attend the funeral of his former teammate, Maurice Lucas. That’s an extremely small sample size and no way to measure Joerger’s potential. But the unknown of an assistant moving to the head job on his current team is a legitimate concern. How will Joerger relate to a group of players that even insiders agree can be very difficult to coach? Plus, one has to wonder why Joerger interviewed with Charlotte, Houston and Portland over the past few years and didn’t get the head job. And Joerger ends up being only a candidate in Memphis when there will be a dozen head coaching changes this year.
ED PINCKNEY
The case for: Pinckney is described as a high-intensity coach who played more than a decade in the NBA. He’s been paying his dues, having served four years as an assistant for the Villanova Wildcats under Jay Wright from 2003-07. Pinckney joined the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant in 2007 and was hired by the Chicago Bulls in 2010. Working under defensive guru Tom Thibodeau is considered a plus.
The case against: Pinckney hasn’t been a head coach on any level. It is reasonable to believe that Pinckney is mostly being considered lead assistant coach for the Grizzlies, especially if Joerger is hired. The move from Chicago to Memphis would be a promotion for Pinckney given his status on Thibodeau’s bench.