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Memphis Grizzlies agree to terms with Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff

By Brendan Smart

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 21: J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 21: J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies during the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 21, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies settled on their head coach for the future in former interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

On Thursday news slowly broke that the Memphis Grizzlies were working on structuring a contract to make former interim Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff full time head coach.

Bickerstaff is familiar with this franchise and has been through the lowest of lows with this team. Injuries, youth development, and keeping a high spirit in a year that featured 60 loses, and not to mention taking over for one of his best friends in former Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Why bring J.B. back?

While the front office will get a lot of flack for not taking interviews, it seemed the guys in the locker room already made their minds up. Bickerstaff was their guy, and pushed a team with so much youth at times on the court to compete at the highest level. The guys in the locker room bought into his mentality, and changing head coaches again wouldn’t be good for the chemistry.

What is J.B.’s plan?

You know, no one has asked Bickerstaff how he wants this team, or any team he has coached how he wants them to play. He pushes them, but are the Grizzlies, and dare I say it, going to run an up-tempo offense? That is the plan or at least I had the vibe when talking with Bickerstaff throughout the season. His main goal is pushing his guys to play at their full potential, and second is pushing the ball after an opponents missed basket.

Contract details?

Bickerstaff will sign on a three-year deal with the Grizzlies and the detail of the salary are not yet out there.

I think Bickerstaff will fall into the two and a half or three million dollar range. New to the head coaching hurts him, but helps the Grizzlies back account.

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