via Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:
Memphis has given permission to coach Lionel Hollins to speak to other teams, league source tells Y! Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013
Endgame in Memphis? Grizzlies have given Lionel Hollins permission to talk with other teams, per source.
— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) June 2, 2013
Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal reports the same, citing Hollins’s agent Warren LeGarie. Wojnarowski adds that talks had continued between Hollins and Grizzlies for a few days but “stalled” on Saturday night.
If the Grizzlies are giving Lionel Hollins permission to speak with other teams, it would seem that they’re not particularly interested in bringing him back. Hollins was considered the frontrunner for the Brooklyn Nets coaching job for some time, but the interest had waned in recent weeks. With permission to speak with other teams, expect the Nets to make the call soon. Hollins is under contract with Memphis until June 30.
In five seasons in his third stint as Grizzlies coach, Hollins improved the team’s winning percentage in each year, culminating in this season’s 56-26 record and trip to the Western Conference Finals.
More on Lionel Hollins here.
