The Memphis Grizzlies have given permission to current head coach and Staples, Minn. native Dave Joerger to interview for the Minnesota Timberwolves head coaching vacancy, according to a report from Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune.
Joerger went 50-32 in his first season as coach and led the Grizzlies to the playoffs, losing in the first round to the Oklahoma City Thunder in seven games. Zgoda also said he wants out of Memphis due changes in the front office.
Bottom line on Joerger interview, per source: He wants out of Memphis and they want him out. He won't quit and they don't want to pay, so…
— Jerry Zgoda (@JerryZgoda) May 21, 2014
Joerger has history with Wolves president of basketball operations Flip Saunders. He used to attend Wolves practices as a young coach when Saunders was the coach.
Minnesota's meeting with Memphis coach Dave Joerger slated within next 24 hours, sources tell Yahoo Sports. Process could move fast.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 21, 2014
Grantland NBA writer Zach Lowe tweeted that hiring Joerger as the coach would be a smart move for the team.
Hiring Joerger would be a coup for Minny, though he'd probably miss his farm in Tennessee. Grizz should just let Tony Allen coach now.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) May 21, 2014
Joerger is originally from Staples and graduated from Moorhead State. His coaching career began in 1997 in the International Basketball Association. He was an assistant for the Grizzlies from 2007-2013, and was hired as head coach in June 2013 after the team decided not to renew then head coach Lionel Hollins’ contract.
Joerger’s potential departure from Memphis may be due to some shake-ups in the Grizzlies’ front office. On Monday, Memphis’s CEO, Jason Levien, and assistant general manager, Stu Lash, were both let go from the team. In short, the situation in Memphis is a disaster.
Memphis fired a coach who took a team to the WCF last year and is letting another that won 50 games amid injuries interview elsewhere.
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 21, 2014
On Sunday, Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Wolves were also interested in former player Sam Mitchell as a possible head coaching candidate.
Meanwhile, KFAN’s Dan Barreiro is reporting that Wolves president Flip Saunders had extensive conversations with Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo as recently as Tuesday night, but Izzo will not be taking the job with the Wolves.
After extensive meetings and a conversation as recently as last night, the Izzo-to-Timberwolves dream is officially dead.
— Dan Barreiro (@DanBarreiroKFAN) May 21, 2014
