Will Lionel Hollins speak to the Nets now that Grizzlies season is over?

By
Updated: May 28, 2013

The Memphis Grizzlies were swept last night by the San Antonio Spurs in four games in the Western Conference Finals.  That means Lionel Hollins can now be pursued by the Nets for their vacant head coaching position.

Will the Nets be a viable option for the free-agent coach or will the Los Angeles Clippers jump into the fray and try to lure Hollins to their sidelines?

[quote_simple]Marc Stein ESPN.com

The Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers have not yet formally requested permission to interview Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins for their respective coaching vacancies.

But it will happen shortly.

Possibly as early as Tuesday.Lionel Hollins taking out Marc Gasol Grizzlies

The Grizzlies’ stunning four-game elimination from the Western Conference finals means Hollins’ uncertain future is finally going to be resolved, with the Nets and Clippers — especially Brooklyn — known to have serious interest in the 59-year-old coach. A big-money offer from Nets billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, according to industry sources, is seen in Memphis as the worst-case scenario that would prevent the Grizzlies from keeping their occasionally cantankerous coach.

The Grizzlies have Hollins under contract through June 30 and, according to sources, will now try to strike a deal with him that keeps him off the open market. But sources add that assistant coach Dave Joerger would receive strong consideration to take over if Hollins departs after four full seasons in charge and by far the best single season in franchise history.[/quote_simple]

[quote_simple] Tom Ziller SBNation

On Hollins:

He’s developed Mike Conley and helped turn Jerryd Bayless into an NBA player. He’s effectively managed Zach Randolph. He’s developed Marc Gasol. His rotations can be bizarre, and he likes Keyon Dooling a little too much. He forgot what Ed Davis looks like. He seems like the last coach who would do something useful with one of John Hollinger’s scouting reports.

To me, the bottom line is this: if the Grizzlies hadn’t made the West finals, would Memphis be looking at keeping Hollins? That seems unlikely. If Russell Westbrook wasn’t injured, would Grizzlies LogoMemphis have gone to the West finals? That seems unlikely. So a major, multi-year determinant in the team’s future could be altered based on the luck of an opponent’s No. 2 player going down in the first round.

What I really worry about is that the Grizzlies feel pressured to keep Hollins around, but there’s a measure of distaste that lingers when they do and they can him at the first sign of trouble. Stability is one of Memphis’ great strengths. If you set Hollins up to disappoint, you’re crushing that as much as you would from replacing him now on your own terms.

In the end, I don’t think those concerns matter as much as the proven success Hollins has had with this core, and I think it’d be awfully risky to try to replace him.[/quote_simple]

[quote_simple] Mark Spears YahooNBA

“I hope things get worked out quickly. I love our team and the possibilities,” Hollins texted Yahoo! Sports after the Grizzlies’ 93-86 Game 4 loss to the Spurs.

The Grizzlies have increased their winning percentage every season since Hollins was hired Jan. 25, 2009. He led the Grizzlies to their best record in franchise history (56-26) this season and first trip to the West finals, despite the midseason trade of Rudy Gay. The Grizzlies also have a new owner in Robert Pera.

Hollins and Grizzlies chief executive officer Jason Levien will discuss Hollins’ future with the franchise this week, but it’s uncertain if a contract extension will be offered, a source said. Until Hollins’ contract ends, the Grizzlies have the right to deny permission to other teams interested in interviewing him.

The Grizzlies’ winning percentage has improved each season under Lionel Hollins.

“I have been able to take a group of young guys and build them into a team, teaching work ethic individually,” Hollins told Yahoo! Sports. “I’ve held them accountable. Taught them how to work hard, what it means, and how to win. They were not a winning team. I showed them what it took to win.

“It’s not just me. They wanted to win and they didn’t know how. And they took to the instruction. Hopefully, as we go forward or whatever happens, if I’m in another situation, I’d be blessed to have a team that can do the same thing because that’s half the battle. Finding a group that has a will to play hard and will to want to win and just need to be taught how to do it.”[/quote_simple]

 

 

Leave a Reply