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| Even though he led his team to the Western Conference Finals, Hollins will be without a job this offseason |
After a disappointing playoff exit, a sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Finals, the Memphis Grizzlies, under new ownership and front-office executives, have officially done what most people expected them to do: tell coach Lionel Hollins that he will not be returning to the team for the 2013-14 season.
Hollins was at the helm of the Grizzlies for 4.5 seasons, posting a 196-155 record in that span, comfortably more than .500. Also, with Memphis, Hollins reached the playoffs his last three seasons, only to lose in the Western conference semis, first round, and conference finals respectively.
Always boasting a talented and deep roster, the 59-year-old former player could never put it all together for a NBA Finals run, a goal significantly hindered by the constant presence of the Spurs and Lakers in the West.
But, overall, Hollins did well with the Grizzlies, and is certain to get another chance with another team. The fact that he had a bunch of good chances to bring the Grizzlies to another level, and just could not, is why Hollins and Memphis had to part the way they did.
It also means that franchises with head-coaching vacancies — like the Nets, Clippers, and Nuggets — have a very well-qualified and reliable option to pursue should they go down that avenue.
In fact, Hollins was heavily linked to the Brooklyn vacancy for a while before Pacers assistant Brian Shaw came into the picture, but the former Grizzlies' coach is still among the pool of candidates Nets GM Billy King is looking at for the job.
