Grizzlies Fire Head Coach Taylor Jenkins

[SleepingHero]

@GrizzliesPR

The @memgrizz today have announced they have parted ways with head coach Taylor Jenkins

[omahen]

that is really surprising. I wonder what was going on. They have a decent result, so I am assuming he lost the locker room.

[SleepingHero]

@jakeLfischer

Memphis changed out virtually all of Taylor Jenkins’ coaching staff after last season, which raised eyebrows across the league. But to make this decision on the Grizzlies’ bench right now… a truly surprising development.

[SleepingHero]

@shamscharania

Taylor Jenkins was called into the Grizzlies office this morning and was fired in person, sources tell ESPN. Stunning dismissal. Jenkins now becomes one of the top head coaching candidates for the upcoming cycle. He had a .539 winning percentage as Grizzlies coach.

[SleepingHero]

that is really surprising. I wonder what was going on. They have a decent result, so I am assuming he lost the locker room.

Yeah I am frankly floored. Right before the playoffs they got rid of the same dude that has constantly overperformed with injured rosters.

[Scott41theMavs]

@shamscharania

Taylor Jenkins was called into the Grizzlies office this morning and was fired in person, sources tell ESPN. Stunning dismissal. Jenkins now becomes one of the top head coaching candidates for the upcoming cycle. He had a .539 winning percentage as Grizzlies coach.

Kidd's head deserves to roll if he had anything to do with the Luka and Grimes trades. Let's go get Jenkins.

[Chicagojk]

wow surprising. When Jenkins was first hired, I thought really and then who is he? But I thought he has done a pretty decent job. The front office has done a good job as well. Really surprising this happened now.

Man, OKC may be a powerhouse, but if you look outside them the West is wide open. Really sucks we never got a chance to see how Luka and this team looked after injury. Memphis got ri of their coach, Houston has no playoff experience, and denver looks like a lesser version of previous years. Minnesota is playing much better but they don't have the same upside this year. Clippers are tough but more of a win first round type of upside.

[DallasMaverick]

Kidd's head deserves to roll if he had anything to do with the Luka and Grimes trades. Let's go get Jenkins.

I think Jenkins was responsible for all their injuries.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

wow surprising.  When Jenkins was first hired, I thought really and then who is he?  But I thought he has done a pretty decent job.  The front office has done a good job as well.  Really surprising this happened now.

Man, OKC may be a powerhouse, but if you look outside them the West is wide open.  Really sucks we never got a chance to see how Luka and this team looked after injury.  Memphis got ri of their coach, Houston has no playoff experience, and denver looks like a lesser version of previous years.  Minnesota is playing much better but they don't have the same upside this year.  Clippers are tough but more of a win first round type of upside.

Rockets have no playoff experience, this is true. But they have a few playoff vets and they are playing as well as anyone at the moment. They're 9-1 in their last 10. I wouldn't blow them off just yet. And holding on to the 2 seed.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I think Jenkins is one of the best coaches in the NBA. He won't be out of a job long. Grizzlies are tied with the Lakers at 44-29 but LA must own the tiebreaker as Memphis is 5th. Definitely a headscratcher to me.

[michaeltex]

Grizz were very upwardly mobile a few years ago. Highly seeded in the West with a young, athletic team that was very cost controlled. Seemed poised to contend for years. Then Moran went crazy with the off court stuff and ended up getting suspended for a bunch of games. Once he returned, he hurt his shoulder and was gone for the rest of the season. Hasn't been the same since. Other injuries and personnel changes kept the team in flux as well.

But, naw, let's just fire the coach with about 12 games to go and a post-season to navigate. That will make things better.

[F Gump]

The firing itself, and then the timing.on top of it, screams that there is WAYYYYYYYY more to this story than anyone is telling us. I have no guess what it might be, but imo there is absolutely no way this happened without a biggie thing causing it, that's been swept under the rug.

[SleepingHero]

The firing itself, and then the timing.on top of it, screams that there is WAYYYYYYYY more to this story than anyone is telling us. I have no guess what it might be, but imo there is absolutely no way this happened without a biggie thing causing it, that's been swept under the rug.

Other than some sort of assault/sexual harassment/fraud thing going on, I can’t really imagine what could qualify as so pressing that would have made the grizzlies cut bait 3 weeks before the playoffs.


And if it is something that’s so bad, how hasn’t it leaked yet?

[Scott41theMavs]

The firing itself, and then the timing.on top of it, screams that there is WAYYYYYYYY more to this story than anyone is telling us. I have no guess what it might be, but imo there is absolutely no way this happened without a biggie thing causing it, that's been swept under the rug.

Like Udoka?

[Knutsen]

The firing itself, and then the timing.on top of it, screams that there is WAYYYYYYYY more to this story than anyone is telling us. I have no guess what it might be, but imo there is absolutely no way this happened without a biggie thing causing it, that's been swept under the rug.

Definitely. Either he did something wrong Udoka-like or he clashed with Morant and they decided to fire the coach instead of trading the franchise player. Or they were in the strip club together with weapons and the night didn’t end well… 

I think I‘ve never witnessed a coach of a team that successful this late in a season getting fired, or do I forget someone?

[FireNicoHarrison]

Maybe he asked to trade their superstar... And sometimes NBA FOs make right choices.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6239543...arded=true


What's being heard around the league about Jenkins firing

Would Ja Morant draw much interest in the trade market?

[omahen]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6239543...arded=true


What's being heard around the league about Jenkins firing

Would Ja Morant draw much interest in the trade market?

This sure looks like Morant can be moved in the summer. He will definitely have, being under contract for three more years and is only 25. Young enough to build around. Some teams can never get such a player in FA and hoping to get one in the draft can take a lot of time. Phoenix can send them Durant

On a more serious note, I could see Utah as a prime candidate. They could use a running mate for Markkanen. Even if Memphis doesn't like their players, they have plenty of assets to construct a three team trade. Sacramento could also be an option, they still have plenty of draft capital. Sabonis and Murray could be interesting for Memphis. Miami would likely want him, but they are short on interesting assets. Houston could use such a player instead of VanVleet and they have plenty of assets. I could see Detroit or Dallas as options too.

[Knutsen]

Definitely. Either he did something wrong Udoka-like or he clashed with Morant and they decided to fire the coach instead of trading the franchise player. Or they were in the strip club together with weapons and the night didn’t end well… 

I think I‘ve never witnessed a coach of a team that successful this late in a season getting fired, or do I forget someone?

And the Nuggets say: hold my beer!