Report: Minnesota and Dave Joerger progress closer to a deal
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, it looks like the Minnesota Timberwolves are getting closer and closer to finding their head coach.
After meeting with owner Glen Taylor, Memphis coach Dave Joerger progressing on deal to become Minnesota coach, sources tell Yahoo.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 25, 2014
Since the front office meltdown in Memphis, Dave Joerger’s status has been up in the air despite only being on the job after one full season. When Lionel Hollins wasn’t retained, Joerger was meant to be the head coach of the future. He wasn’t as stern as Hollins, was keen on developing young players, and bought into analytics. Fast forward and, due to instability in the front office, and it seems like he’s officially on his way out the door. All that needs to be done is now on Memphis’ end.
As previously reported, the Grizzlies have two ways to respond to Dave Joerger’s pending leave: they could either demand compensation or fire him.
The first benefits the organization most. For those who are wondering, a trade involving Kevin Love and Dave Joerger is impossible. First and foremost, the Grizzlies have nothing the Timberwolves would like. The players Minnesota would be interested in, Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, those players aren’t on the trade block. Secondly, the act of swapping a player for a coach is illegal in the NBA. The only two ways to compensate a team for a head coach is to either give cash or trade a draft pick. And based on reports, the T’Wolves aren’t willing to give up a future first-rounder for Joerger. At most, a second-round pick would due.
The second way would be for the Wolves to wait until Joerger is fired and hire him without all the hard work. Considering Memphis has let Joerger get this far into the process, there is no doubt that Robert Pera would fire him in order to begin the search for another coach. And when the Grizzlies do so, Minnesota will be prepared to swoop in and nab their guy.
Now we just wait on the intricate details to be worked through. Once that’s done, Minnesota will have their coach, and they can begin to focus on what’s most important: figuring out what to do with Kevin Love.