Two NBA head coaching vacancies remain: the Houston Rockets’ and Memphis Grizzlies’ positions.
Soon enough, though, the Rockets may stand alone, as the only team in the league without a head coach.
Because the Grizzlies, for their part, seem enamored by Miami Heat assistant David Fizdale, who has been brought back for a second interview, according to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:
Away from this riveting series: Sources say that the candidacy of Miami's David Fizdale for the Grizzlies' job is gaining serious momentum
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 25, 2016
NBA sources say Heat assistant David Fizdale progressed to an interview with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera after his first Memphis interview.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 25, 2016
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: This would be a great hire for the Grizzlies.
Although Fizdale doesn’t have any head coaching experience, and while there’s no guarantee he ends up being better than the departed Dave Joerger, who is now the coach of the Sacramento Kings, he is certainly worth the dice roll given the current situation in which Memphis finds itself.
Fizdale has lent a helping hand to championship teams in Miami, under both Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley. He is among those credited with helping LeBron James develop a post game during his time with the Heat. And he has been mentioned among the hottest coaching prospects for years.
If the Grizzlies are looking for a fresh face to add a new layer of intrigue and function to their grit ‘n’ grind era, they could do a lot worse than Fizdale. Hiring him, even after losing Joerger in a haze of controversy, would be considered a victory.
