With the front office in turmoil and coach Dave Joerger likely heading to Minnesota, the Memphis Grizzlies are looking at options for next season to help get them over the hump in the crowded Western Conference. One of their lead candidates is someone many teams have tried to chase in recent years: Jeff Van Gundy.
The NBA is a copycat league, and the Grizzlies took a look at the deal the Pistons just gave Stan Van Gundy and figured “hey, why don’t we give the same thing to his brother?” The former Knicks and Rockets coach has spent the last seven years as an ESPN analyst, but it seems like every year his name gets tossed around in coaching rumors.
It makes sense why teams would want Jeff Van Gundy; he has a lifetime 430-318 record and nine playoff appearances in 11 seasons. Even though he’s been out of the coaching game for a while, someone with his track record of success would be a huge asset for a veteran team like Memphis.
While it’s no certainty that Van Gundy would take the job, this kind of autonomy has to at least be tempting. Since Joerger is still technically the Grizzlies’ coach, there isn’t much to be done just yet; however, this is a story worth watching over the next week.
[via ESPN]
