David Fizdale has sat next to Erik Spoelstra in Miami for the past few seasons knowing he’s one of those top assistant coaches who was eventually going to get a shot in the big chair. The only question was where and when.
The answer may be Memphis right now.
Fizdale has a second interview coming with the Grizzlies, reports Marc Stein of ESPN.
NBA sources say Heat assistant David Fizdale progressed to an interview with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera after his first Memphis interview.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 25, 2016
Sources say Frank Vogel also had an interview with Grizzlies owner Robert Pera before spurning Memphis' job to take the Orlando Magic job.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 25, 2016
This would be a good hire for Memphis (although whether he is better than Dave Joerger — the coach the Grizzlies fired when he asked if he could talk to Sacramento about their job — is certainly up for debate).
In Miami, Fizdale had won the trust and respect of a team full of players that had won rings. He was a guy they leaned on and went to. As an example, Fizdale worked hard with LeBron James on developing a post game; he was the guy LeBron trusted.
Fizdale deserves a shot, it sounds like Memphis may be that place.
