Post by b1ake on May 21, 2014 13:00:18 GMT -5
The Minnesota Timberwolves have gained permission from the Memphis Grizzlies to speak with Dave Joerger about their coaching vacancy, according to multiple reports.
Joerger's visit with the Wolves reportedly will likely happen by week's end.
Joerger, a Minnesota native with strong ties to Wolves president Flip Saunders, led the Grizzlies to a 50-win season in his coaching debut. But he is said to want out of Memphis because of upheaval within the team's front office. On Monday, the Grizzlies announced that team CEO Jason Levien and assistant general manager Stu Lash had been dismissed.
Sources close to the situation told ESPN that a breakdown in the relationship between team owner Robert Pera and Levien (who helped broker Pera's purchase of the franchise in June 2012) led to a major shakeup in Memphis for the second successive spring. The Grizzlies declined to re-sign popular coach Lionel Hollins after last season's trip to the Western Conference finals, instead replacing him with Joerger.
On Monday, sources told ESPN.com that Pera expressed internal dismay with Joerger early in the season and contemplated firing him before the Grizzlies steadied themselves after the return from injury of Marc Gasol. Memphis finishing seventh in the Western Conference, however, and lost a seven-game series to Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs after star forward Zach Randolph was suspended for the deciding game.
The Wolves were 40-42 in Rick Adelman's third season with the team. They missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, and Adelman retired in April after 23 seasons as a coach to spend more time with his wife, who has been in failing health.
Whomever Saunders hires will have to help him persuade Kevin Love to stay in Minnesota for the long haul. The All-Star power forward can opt out of his contract after next season and sources have told ESPN.com he has told the team he will not sign an extension before his contract expires.
Joerger's visit with the Wolves reportedly will likely happen by week's end.
Joerger, a Minnesota native with strong ties to Wolves president Flip Saunders, led the Grizzlies to a 50-win season in his coaching debut. But he is said to want out of Memphis because of upheaval within the team's front office. On Monday, the Grizzlies announced that team CEO Jason Levien and assistant general manager Stu Lash had been dismissed.
Sources close to the situation told ESPN that a breakdown in the relationship between team owner Robert Pera and Levien (who helped broker Pera's purchase of the franchise in June 2012) led to a major shakeup in Memphis for the second successive spring. The Grizzlies declined to re-sign popular coach Lionel Hollins after last season's trip to the Western Conference finals, instead replacing him with Joerger.
On Monday, sources told ESPN.com that Pera expressed internal dismay with Joerger early in the season and contemplated firing him before the Grizzlies steadied themselves after the return from injury of Marc Gasol. Memphis finishing seventh in the Western Conference, however, and lost a seven-game series to Oklahoma City in the first round of the playoffs after star forward Zach Randolph was suspended for the deciding game.
The Wolves were 40-42 in Rick Adelman's third season with the team. They missed the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, and Adelman retired in April after 23 seasons as a coach to spend more time with his wife, who has been in failing health.
Whomever Saunders hires will have to help him persuade Kevin Love to stay in Minnesota for the long haul. The All-Star power forward can opt out of his contract after next season and sources have told ESPN.com he has told the team he will not sign an extension before his contract expires.
