Lionel Hollins isn’t quietly exiting the stage in Memphis.
The Grizzlies head coach, who is still under contract until June 30, was given permission by Memphis to speak to other teams Sunday – despite the fact that he led the team to a franchise record 56 wins, as well as to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history.
But Hollins, who is expected to draw interest from at least the Nets and Clippers and has expressed a desire to return to the Grizzlies with a new contract next season during his exit interviews last week, and also said he didn’t expect to be given permission to talk to teams before his contract expired, lashed out at Grizzlies management – as well as taking a shot at the man likely to succeed him, assistant coach Dave Joerger – in an interview with Memphis radio station WHBQ Monday.
“I thought everything was good,” Hollins said in the interview of his situation with regards to staying in Memphis, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I was excited when I left … the next thing I know, I’ve been given permission to talk to other teams.
“People need to know from my perspective that I don’t want to talk to any other teams. I want to be here. I told the media after our exit interviews that, if the team offered me a contract that I felt was fair, I’d sign it the next day.”
It appears that such an offer never came, however, prompting the Grizzlies to inform Hollins’ agent, Warren LeGarie, that he can speak to other teams interested in hiring Hollins to coach them.
It clearly wasn’t what Hollins expected, after he said multiple times after the season ended that he wanted to continue on in Memphis, where he’s been the coach since he replaced Mike Iavaroni back in 2009, and has led Memphis to an improved winning percentage in each of his four full seasons at the helm.
“I want to coach the Memphis Grizzlies, the team that the city has embraced and that has the potential to go further with a few tweaks and adjustments,” Hollins said.
He also confirmed a Yahoo! Sports report Sunday that he’d shouted at Memphis vice president John Hollinger after Hollinger had walked onto the practice court and engaged forward Austin Daye during a shooting drill, but tried to downplay the incident.
“John and I talked about it afterwards, and we laughed about it,” Hollins said. “I just reacted … I didn’t know who it was. I didn’t care who it was. If it was President Obama, I probably would have reacted the same way.
“It wasn’t my motive to show management that I run things. It had nothing to [do] with anything other than that I reacted to somebody jumping on the court.”
Hollins also addressed the speculation that his likely replacement if he and the Grizzlies do part ways would be Joerger, who is considered by many to be one of the NBA’s top assistant coaches and falls more in line with the front office’s interest in analytics than Hollins does.
“Why would you move a proven coach who has shown what he can do to bring in an ‘upcoming superstar?’” Hollins said. “To me, that’s ludicrous … it’s puzzling when I hear comments like that.
“I love Dave Joerger. We have a great rapport. We’ve spent every summer since I elevated him to my first assistant talking philosophy and concepts.”
And while Hollins is expected to speak with other teams, including potentially the Nets, he made it clear that he’d love to stay right where he’s at.
“I believe in Memphis,” he said. “I love Memphis. I never had any intention of going anywhere. I don’t have any intention of going anywhere.”