Grizzlies Reportedly Give Lionel Hollins Permission to Talk to Other Teams
When a team makes a surprising run to the conference finals, its coaches typically get a little extra attention in the offseason hunt for high-quality coaching help. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, that appears to be the case with Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins:
Hollins’ contract is set to expire on June 30, and after an extremely successful season at the helm of the Grizzlies, it comes as no surprise the 59-year-old is garnering some attention from other teams.
As Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports reported, the Los Angeles Clippers, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks are expected to approach the Grizzlies about speaking with Hollins this offseason.
With that interest in mind, per Wojnarowski, it's looking less and less likely that Hollins will be back in Memphis next season.
One of the biggest factors in Hollins’ future could be money, as is often the case when dealing with free-agent coaching contracts. As quoted by an ESPN.com report, the former NBA point guard wants to stay in Memphis, but he has “realistic” expectations for the future:
"Hopefully, I will be here. I love the guys. I love this city and the fans and everybody associated with the team. But we've got to be very, very realistic in what the future holds.
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Those comments suggest Hollins may have been in contact with Memphis about an extension prior to the organization giving him permission to talk with other teams, and as Wojnarowski also reported, that appears to have been the case:
Not only that, but details are beginning to emerge that showcase the fundamental disagreement between Hollins and the new Grizzlies management. Wojnarowski details a intense scene at a Grizzlies practice during their playoff run:
"Management wants a coach willing to buy into the analytic movement, using those mechanisms to make roster, lineup and system decisions. Hollins has resented what he considers undue interference by management, and has stood by his track record and success in maintaining productivity with a roster of diverse and difficult personalities.
During the Grizzlies' playoff run, tensions turned to a confrontation when Hollins exploded during a practice session upon finding Hollinger had walked onto the practice court and engaged forward Austin Daye during a shooting drill, multiple sources told Yahoo! Sports.
With the team watching – and with a motive to show his players that he was completely in charge on the floor, sources said – Hollins loudly questioned Hollinger about what he was doing, and why he believed it was appropriate for a management official to intrude on what's considered sacred territory for a coach and team, sources said.
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With talks breaking down, Hollins has a very good chance of finding a big payday with another organization, including the Nets, per Wojnarowski:
The Grizzlies will be faced with a lot of difficult choices this offseason, including roster decisions involving Tony Allen and Jerryd Bayless, among others.
With so much uncertainty, it makes sense Hollins would weigh his options and explore coaching for an organization with a little more long-term sustainability on its roster.
