UPDATE 3:48 pm: The shakeup is already confirmed by none other than Grizzlies majority owner Robert Pera — CEO Jason Levien and assistant general manager Stu Lash have been fired.
It is likely that the shakeup will continue down the chain of command.
“Our franchise has made tremendous strides over the last few seasons and we thank Jason for his hard work and dedication and wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors,” Pera said in a released statement. “Rest assured that we remain as committed as ever to bringing a championship to this great city and we are confident that when the new season begins our fans will be excited about both our roster and the direction of our organization.”
Chris Wallace, the GM who had been largely sidelined by management, is now back in charge of basketball operations. At least for now. He has told several outlets that coach Dave Joerger is safe in his position. However Joerger and the slow start of the Grizzlies (when Marc Gasol was injured) may have played a role in sowing the seeds of unrest, reports Marc Stein at ESPN.
3:06 pm: What do the four teams in the NBA’s conference Finals have in common? Front office stability. They’ve had a plan, stuck with that plan.
Memphis aspires to be on that level, but they apparently are going to do it with a radically different front office, and maybe coaching staff.
Marc Stein of ESPN was first with the news that shocked the NBA world Monday:
Hearing major shakeup forthcoming in Memphis: Team CEO Jason Levien is poised to resign from club after assistant GM Stu Lash was dismissed
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 19, 2014
Future of MEM coach Dave Joerger & executive VP John Hollinger uncertain after clash between Grizz owner Robert Pera and current management
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 19, 2014
Grizzlies’ guard Tony Allen summed up all of our reactions.
Wow
— Tony Allen (@aa000G9) May 19, 2014
When tech billionaire Robert Pera purchased the Grizzlies he reshaped the front office in his own image – far more analytics driven. Jason Levien was at the forefront of that. It is why John Hollinger was hired away from ESPN. That is why the successful Lionel Hollins was let go as coach and Dave Joerger was brought in — he related better to the direction of the franchise.
Hollins took them to the conference finals, this year the Grizzlies were one-and-done (although they pushed the Thunder seven games, the deep West is unfair like that). The changes did not yield immediate results.
Now that direction seems to be in trouble.
Expect more drama in Memphis before this is over. That is not how you build a consistent winner.