Grizzlies coach candidates: Who could Memphis target to replace fired Taylor Jenkins?
Grizzlies coach candidates: Who could Memphis target to replace fired Taylor Jenkins?
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Who does Gordon Hayward think will win NBA MVP this season?
Former NBA player Gordon Hayward has his choice between Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for MVP, and make it clear who he thinks should win.
Sports Seriously
The Memphis Grizzlies are 44-29, tied for the fourth-best mark in a very tough Western Conference. Taylor Jenkins had posted a .539 winning percentage and was about to clinch his fourth postseason berth in six seasons.
Yet, Friday, in a somewhat stunning move, the Grizzlies fired Jenkins — the winningest coach in franchise history — with nine games left in the regular season.
The Grizzlies had lost five of their last seven games and had been sliding down the Western Conference standings, but the timing nonetheless remains questionable. It also raises the question if Memphis can attract a clear upgrade at head coach.
Here are eight possible replacements the Memphis Grizzlies may consider to replace Jenkins:
David Adelman, Nuggets lead assistant coach
Serving as Denver coach Michael Malone's lead assistant, Adelman has drawn head coaching interviews in recent hiring cycles and figures to be one of the top assistants available. The son of former NBA coach Rick Adelman, David spent the majority of his life around the NBA. Known to be an offensive-minded assistant, Adelman has evolved his father's legacy of turning big men into attacking centerpieces; Nikola Jokić has become one of the dominant forces in the NBA and the Nuggets lead the league in points in the paint per game (58.2). The second-ranked team? The Grizzlies, averaging 56.4 per game.
Terry Stotts, Warriors lead assistant coach
What Adelman lacks in head coaching experience, Stotts has in abundance. Stotts, 67, has been an NBA head coach for 13 seasons. The Warriors hired Stotts this past offseason with the aim of reinvigorating Golden State's offense; by and large, he has delivered. Known for his ability to develop and work with guards, Stotts was instrumental in the development of Damian Lillard with the Trail Blazers and has a reputation for working well with a team's stars. Still the Blazers' second-most winningest coach, Stotts would pair well with dynamic Grizzlies point guard Ja Morant.
Tuomas Iisalo, Grizzlies interim coach
If Memphis wanted to go the internal route, Iisalo, a former Finnish player, will be the option. The Grizzlies appointed him to be the interim coach for the remainder of the season, which can often be a trial run for aspiring coaches. He joined the Grizzlies this offseason when Jenkins overhauled his assistant coaching staff. Iisalo built his reputation in Europe, where he led Paris Basketball to a 22-1 record last season, winning the EuroCup championship and EuroCup Coach of the Year in his first season with the organization. Iisalo leaned on transition offense, pushing the ball up the court, something the Grizzlies have embodied in his one season in Memphis; the team ranks first in the NBA in pace (103.85).
Sam Cassell, Celtics lead assistant coach
This would be a hire that's also geared toward guard play. Cassell, a 15-year point guard, has had assistant coaching stops with the Wizards, Clippers, 76ers and Celtics. Cassell has already drawn interest in previous coaching cycles. Given Boston's success, it feels like a matter of time before he's appointed as a head coach. Known for taking an honest approach with his players, Cassell has worked with stars like Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, James Harden and Joel Embiid.
Jarron Collins, Pelicans assistant coach
If the Grizzlies wanted to address defense with their hire, Collins, a former center, could be a viable option. Collins, 46, actually interviewed for the Grizzlies coaching vacancy during the 2019 cycle, before the team hired Jenkins. Collins served as an assistant with the Warriors under Steve Kerr from 2014-21, becoming Kerr's trusted defensive specialist on staff. On staff for three championship teams in Golden State, Collins would almost certainly emphasize low-post defense with rookie Zach Edey and 2022-23 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr.
Kevin Young, BYU head coach
Though he made the jump to college this season, Young remains a coach with deep ties to the NBA, most notably his three seasons spent (2021-24) as the associate head coach of the Suns. Young worked closely with Suns star guard Devin Booker, helping him earn his first and only first-team All-NBA selection in 2021-22. In fact, that season, he helped Phoenix snap a 10-year postseason drought, with the Suns eventually falling to the Bucks in the NBA Finals. At BYU this season, he led the Cougars to a 26-10 record before Thursday night's loss against the Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
Frank Vogel, Mavericks coaching consultant
There's an argument to be made that Vogel should still be the head coach of the Suns, who fired him May 2024 after he spent just one season with the team. Vogel has since joined the Mavericks staff under coach Jason Kidd as a consultant. Vogel has 12 years of head coaching experience and led the Lakers to an NBA title in the 2019-20, COVID-19-impacted season. At his stops, Vogel has stressed discipline and attention to detail — traits the Grizzlies have lacked at times, as they're tied for second-to-last in the NBA in turnovers per game (15.9). And offensively, he asks his teams to rely on passing and off-ball movement to exploit defenses.
Mike Brown, former Kings coach
It was rather surprising when Sacramento fired Mike Brown on Dec. 27 after he compiled a .549 winning percentage with the team. If the Grizzlies chose to go with Brown, though, it would present something of a philosophical shift; Brown's teams have typically been in the middle of the pack of the league in pace. Nonetheless, Brown is an experienced coach who demands hustle and grit from his players, particularly on defense. That is one area where Sacramento has struggled this season without him; since the All-Star break, the Kings are dead last in defensive 3-point percentage, allowing teams to lace shots at an alarming 41.2% clip.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
32 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Kevin Durant reportedly traded to Houston, Phoenix gets Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, No. 10 pick, more
On the day of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals, the Houston Rockets have thrust themselves into the center of the 2026 title discussion. The Phoenix Suns are trading Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets for a package of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the 2025 draft (which is the Suns getting back their own pick), and five future second-round picks, a story broken by Shams Charania of ESPN. Houston was one of Durant's preferred landing spots and he is expected to sign a two-year, $100+ million extension with them when eligible. The risk with that is Durant turns 37 before the start of next season and comes with an injury history. For the Rockets, that is a risk worth taking — Durant is the guy they need. While Houston won 52 games this season and was the No. 2 seed in the West thanks to an impressive, athletic young core led by coach Ime Udoka, its loss in the first round to Golden State highlighted the lack of a finisher in the half court. The Rockets needed a go-to scorer who could go get a bucket in the clutch. They now have one of the greatest bucket-getters in NBA history, a guy who averaged 26.6 points a game last season while shooting 43% from beyond the arc, not just a four-time league scoring champion but also a two-time Finals MVP who knows how to perform on the biggest of stages and continues to do so. The Rockets now have Durant starting alongside veteran Fred VanVleet at the point (likely to extend or re-sign with the team this summer), Amen Thompson on the wing, Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Sengun at center. The Rockets also still have Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, Reed Shepard and others off the bench — plus a lot of future picks, meaning they may not be done trading. The Rockets and Suns had been negotiating since their seasons ended, but the sides had been far apart on terms for a Durant trade, with the Rockets trying to center the trade around Jabari Parker Jr., while the Suns were hoping for core Rockets players such as Amen Thompson or Alperen Sengun. The sides ultimately made the trade about Green — the explosive but inefficient scorer who averaged 21 points per game last season, but with a .544 true shooting percentage that was below the league average. Green, 24 and entering his fifth NBA season, has plenty of possibilities for improvement. For Phoenix, this was about as well as they were going to do in this trade market. They acquire a scorer who can play alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in Green. More importantly, a team that lacked defense and grit has just gained a lot of both with Brooks. Then there is the No. 10 pick, which can go a number of different directions (or be traded again). The most stunning part of this trade: That it happened the day of Game 7 of the NBA Finals, taking the spotlight off the court and putting it on the NBA's transaction cycle. That is not going to sit well in the league office.
Washington Post
33 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Suns agree to trade Kevin Durant to Rockets for players and picks
The Phoenix Suns have agreed to trade 15-time all-star forward Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Jalen Green, forward Dillon Brooks, a 2025 first-round pick and five second-round picks, multiple people with knowledge of the situation confirmed Sunday. The trade agreement cannot be officially completed until the NBA's calendar resets in July. ESPN first reported the deal's terms. Durant, 36, will bring his proven scoring ability and championship experience to a young Rockets team that finished second in the Western Conference last season before losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Golden State Warriors. Houston was able to add the four-time scoring champion without surrendering all-star center Alperen Sengun or promising recent lottery picks such as Amen Thompson and Jabari Smith Jr. Rockets Coach Ime Udoka previously coached Durant as an assistant with the Brooklyn Nets in 2020-21 and for the U.S. men's basketball team at the 2020 Olympics. Durant's disappointing two-plus seasons with the Suns began with a February 2023 blockbuster trade from Brooklyn. Although Durant touted Phoenix's championship potential shortly after his arrival in the desert, the Suns were eliminated by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the 2023 playoffs, suffered a first-round sweep against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2024 playoffs and missed the postseason this year by finishing 11th in the Western Conference with a 36-46 record. Multiple missteps by Suns owner Mat Ishbia, who agreed to purchase the team in December 2022, preceded Durant's long-anticipated departure. Phoenix attempted to construct a 'Big Three' by acquiring Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards in June 2023, but Durant, Devin Booker and Beal struggled to build chemistry because of repeated injury issues and never meshed particularly well on the court. As the Suns slipped in the standings following a franchise-record 64-win season in 2021-22, Ishbia fired well-regarded coaches Monty Williams, Frank Vogel and Mike Budenholzer in quick succession. Despite those changes, Phoenix continually struggled to defend at a high level and fell short of its potential on offense despite its well-known stars. While Phoenix attempted to trade for disgruntled star Jimmy Butler before this year's trade deadline, its efforts were hamstrung by the no-trade clause in Beal's contract. Durant remained an ultraefficient scorer throughout his Phoenix tenure, averaging 26.6 points, six rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 52.7 percent from the field and 43.0 percent on three-pointers last season. However, Durant has become more dependent on his jump shooting since he suffered a torn Achilles' tendon as a member of the Golden State Warriors during the 2019 NBA Finals. The two-time champion has seen his Player Efficiency Rating, free throw rate and ability to score at the rim slip noticeably since that injury, and he hasn't advanced to the conference finals since leaving the Warriors for the Nets in June 2019. By trading Durant, who is owed $54.7 million next season, the Suns took a step toward greater financial flexibility after leading the NBA with a $220 million payroll. Earlier this offseason, Ishbia hired Brian Gregory as general manager and Jordan Ott as coach, signaling a new era for an organization that traded significant draft assets to acquire Durant and Beal. Phoenix still faces major roster questions, including whether it should part with Beal this summer and whether the 28-year-old Booker, a four-time all-star, should be moved in pursuit of a full-scale rebuilding effort. The Suns do not control any of their first-round picks until 2032. Green, 23, was the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, but the athletic scoring guard must continue to improve his consistency and efficiency as he progresses through his career. Brooks, 29, is a proven wing stopper. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Newsweek
34 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Kevin Durant Learned About Rockets Trade From Fans at Live Event
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NBA superstar and 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant is heading to Houston. The Phoenix Suns traded the two-time champion to the Rockets in a massive deal. The Rockets traded away their young star, Jalen Green, along with Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in the draft, and five second-round picks to the Suns. ESPN's Shams Charania was the first to report, but Durant heard the news from fans at a live event on Sunday. While on stage with NBA reporter Taylor Rooks, fans started screaming at Durant, delivering the news to him. Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on after a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 7, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on after a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on March 7, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. Photo by Tyler McFarland/Fans broke the news to Kevin Durant that he got traded during a Fanatics Fest panel This is insane 🤯 (via @LakeShowYo, @FanaticsFest) — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 22, 2025 This story will be updated....
