Things have been very quiet regarding the Memphis Grizzlies’ ongoing search for a new head coach. Will an announcement be made this week?
We are nearing the two-month mark since the Memphis Grizzlies fired J.B. Bickerstaff from his head coach title along with making other changes within the organization. To some Grizzlies fans’ surprise, the Front Office is actually doing their due diligence in ensuring they pick the right candidate at this critical juncture.
To date, the Memphis Grizzlies have shown interest in seven candidates. Their qualities are all very similar: defensive-minded, young, inexperienced at the head coaching role, background in player development. Except for the inexperience part, Grizzlies fans can agree that this is the proper criteria true candidates must pass in order to be eligible for the job in Memphis.
It truly is a toss-up as to who the Memphis Grizzlies are most likely to choose as their next head coach. Each candidate thus far comes with risk, but each could make the case to be the next diamond pulled from the rough of the head coach talent pool. Most of the seven names are just waiting on their golden opportunity — someone to take a chance on them — though this has stung the Grizzlies in the past few seasons.
One of the seven candidates is former Lithuanian NBA player Sarunas Jasikevicius, who is now the head coach of Zalgiris. He is known as one of the all-time best players on the international circuit, and he gave plenty of fits for Team USA in past Olympics. Today, he is racking up championships while donning a suit and tie, but would it translate to the NBA?
On Saturday, according to Lithuanian basketball reporter Donatas Urbonas, the feeling is that “Saras” Jasikevicius will not be returning to his current gig next season, and appears to be moving up the chain in his career. Could he be the Memphis Grizzlies’ top target to fill the vacancy?
Aaron White also received standing ovations from Zalgiris fans when he was subbed out in the end of 3rdQ. Again, Saras hugged him & it seemed like to be another "thank you and good bye" moment for White. Both Davies and White are expected to leave Zalgiris for a bigger contract.
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) June 1, 2019
This would make a lot of sense for the Memphis Grizzlies due to his defensive-mindedness, ability to develop players, winning, and a strong connection with one particular player — Jonas Valanciunas. As it is a huge goal for the Grizzlies to persuade Valanciunas to opt into his contract — in addition to just maybe agreeing to a long-term deal this summer — hiring Sarunas Jasikevicius could be the key to retaining Jonas.
Urbonis’ reporting becomes more interesting. It sounds like the potential is truly there for the Memphis Grizzlies to bring him aboard, but if that is not the case, then he will be staying put. Again, if Saras is “expected to leave Zalgiris for a bigger contract,” then he must have the Grizzlies’ job opening in his bag, right?
Sarunas Jasikevicius on his future with Zalgiris: "Now I can't say anything. It's so great in Kaunas, that some very incredible situation must come, that I would change it. Now I feel very good in Zalgiris. I don't need to chase anything, because Zalgiris is TOP organization."
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) June 1, 2019
Then Jasikevicius zeroed in on the Memphis Grizzlies job specifically, per Donatas Urbonas.
Sarunas Jasikevicius on talks with Memphis Grizzlies: „They still don't have a coach. We can talk a lot, but as I understand, now it's the process of information gathering. I don't know if it will get more serious. But I don't want to go deeper on rumors about me & my players.“
— Donatas Urbonas (@Urbodo) June 1, 2019
It is refreshing to hear the Memphis Grizzlies are conducting a real interview and search process this year. That is a big area in which they failed themselves this time last year prior to the official full-time hire of J.B. Bickerstaff. Whoever the Grizzlies officially select to be their next head coach should come with more comfort and assurance that they are the right person for the job, given their due diligence in this process.
For now, it remains as speculation, but a lot of the comments from Sarunas Jasikevicus are very interesting to say the least. It would make sense that the Grizzlies have not made an official hire yet due to Zalgiris’ season continuing until yesterday, when they took home the championship trophy.
Jasikevicius is not the only candidate in the Grizzlies’ mix that is still playing in June. Adrian Griffin — an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors — is facing off in the NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors, who has Jarron Collins on their payroll — another candidate with the assistant coach title. It is beginning to be crunch time in Memphis with the 2019 NBA Draft less than three weeks away.