Rudy Gay's future with the Grizzlies is part of the lingering uncertainties in Memphis. But in that, head coach Lionel Hollins' status should be something to consider as well. His contract expires at the end of the 2012-13 season, and it's a wonder if he's not concerned about it.
Lionel Hollins speaks out about his future with Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins isn’t just dealing with questions about the future of forward Rudy Gay. Hollins’ own future is up in the air with an expiring contract and new ownership.
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According to Geoff Calkins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Hollins very well could be worried about his future, and that is tied to Gay’s name being including in trade talks.
“If they want to break up the team and get rid of everybody, I’ll coach until the season is over and make up my mind about what I’m going to do,” Hollins told Calkins.
Stubborn or not, Hollins might have the right to worry about his future. Despite leading the Grizzlies to a 24-11 record this season, the head coach has recently made numerous comments that appear to be questioning how much confidence the Memphis front office has in the team and their coach.
The Gay trade rumors are just part of it.
After Hollins inherited a struggling Grizzlies team in 2009 that went 13-26 after he took the reins, the head coach has a winning percentage of 57 percent, and the Grizzlies only appear to be getting better.
So it’s concerning that Hollins told Miami radio’s Dan Le Batard that he hasn’t talked with new Grizzlies owner Robert Pera, as Calkins reports, nor is it a good sign he went on another radio show and questioned the quickly-evolving use of analytics in NBA front offices. The latter comes after Memphis recently hired NBA analytics guru and writer John Hollinger as the team’s vice president of basketball operations.
Hollins said that if the team was going to broken up -- this in reference to the potential Gay trade -- then he’d suggest a five-year contract extension as to see a rebuilding effort through, according to Calkins.
The news cycle doesn’t appear to contain any such discussion. And the Grizzlies’ future past this season remains a mystery.
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