5 reasons Patrick Ewing needs to coach the Memphis Grizzlies
By John Buhler
5. Front office wouldn’t have to end Grit N’ Grind era with Ewing.
The Grizzlies’ front office has a difficult decision to make with regards to its roster’s construction: Does Memphis choose to continue as is with the immensely popular Grit N’ Grind era of the Grizzlies despite being probably past its prime or does Memphis choose to pull the plug on the city’s beloved basketball corps for an inevitable rebuild?
Given that Memphis has embraced the Grit N’ Grind era so feverishly in this young, small basketball market, the Grizzlies’ front office has to be certain that a rebuild is the right course of action.
Either way, Ewing becoming the next head coach for the Grizzlies would make a ton of sense. Should the Grit N’ Grind group essentially stay intact, especially if point guard Mike Conley re-signs like he promised center Marco Gasol, Ewing has the coaching acumen to lead Memphis as is. If Memphis feels the need to blow the whole thing up, Ewing could leave his own mark on a team that would embody his own coaching philosophies and physical playing style.
Ewing is a basketball legend that could keep Memphians interested in this basketball team should the Grit N’ Grind era come to a close. He’d have better job security with the organization than what Joerger had, as the new ownership group for some reason viewed him as a Lionel Hollins retread.
Let’s also keep in mind that the best coaching candidate available in former Indiana Pacers head coach Frank Vogel may not want to do the whole rebuilding thing. Would former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach David Blatt be all that interested in one either?
Regardless of what the Memphis front office chooses to do, Ewing would be happy to get the opportunity to lead this competitive Southwest Division franchise in 2016-17.
Next: 4. The next strong branch from a great coaching tree.