The Memphis Grizzlies have reportedly fired head coach Dave Joerger, per Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:
Sources: The Memphis Grizzlies fired coach Dave Joerger on Saturday morning. Story soon on @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 7, 2016
Sources: For second time in three years, Joerger was seeking Memphis permission to talk with other teams on vacancies. Grizzlies let him go.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 7, 2016
Sacramento has been pushing hard for permission to speak to Dave Joerger and he’s moved to top of Kings’ list, sources tell @TheVertical.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) May 7, 2016
According to Wojnarowski, the Grizzlies saw Joerger as growing “belligerent” as he was openly critical of several moves made by the front office. It became clear that Joerger wanted a fresh start elsewhere, as he was seeking permission to interview for the Houston Rockets and Sacramento Kings positions.
Wojnarowski reports that the Kings now officially have Joerger in their sights:
Despite Sacramento’s inherent dysfunction, the Kings’ willingness to give Joerger a significant long-term contract – likely in the $4 million range annually – is a strong allure for a coach who spent 10 years making modest money in basketball’s minor leagues, league sources said.
Joerger spent three seasons as the Grizzlies head coach, succeeding Lionel Hollins in 2013 after serving six seasons as an assistant. Joerger posted a 147-99 record as head coach of the Grizzlies, reaching the playoffs all three seasons and never finishing with a below .500 record.
