Report: Bucks Assistant Taylor Jenkins Agrees to Contract to Become Grizzlies HC

Kyle Newport @@KyleNewportFeatured ColumnistJune 11, 2019

MILWAUKEE, WI - MAY 17: Assistant Coach Taylor Jenkins of the Milwaukee Bucks looks on against the Toronto Raptors during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals on May 17, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images

The Memphis Grizzlies are hiring Milwaukee Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins to be the franchise's next head coach, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Jenkins has spent the last six seasons coaching under Mike Budenholzer, spending five years with the Atlanta Hawks (2013-18) and one with the Milwaukee Bucks (2018-19).

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Jenkins is third NBA head coach to come directly off of Mike Budenholzer’s coaching staff, including Utah’s Quin Snyder and Brooklyn’s Kenny Atkinson. https://t.co/gMKqRMqKt8

Milwaukee finished with an NBA-best 60 wins this past season and came within two victories of the NBA Finals.

Memphis fired J.B. Bickerstaff in April while demoting former general manager Chris Wallace to scout following a second consecutive season without a playoff appearance. Bickerstaff went 48-97 after taking over for David Fizdale early in the 2017-18 campaign.

Jenkins will be expected to help right the ship.

Prior to the last two seasons, the Grizzlies had made seven consecutive postseason appearances as Mike Conley and Marc Gasol led the way. Gasol was dealt to the Toronto Raptors prior to the trade deadline this past season, while Conley remains, though Memphis did reportedly shop him at the deadline.

Conley's future in Memphis remains uncertain, especially considering the team owns the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft. ESPN's Jonathan Givony reported in mid-May that the Grizzlies have made it known they will draft Murray State point guard Ja Morant.

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Regardless of Conley's status, bringing in a top prospect like Morant will give Jenkins a potential franchise cornerstone to work with from the start.