Pay Or Play

The new Grizzlies front office is trying to run this team with as little payroll as possible. If they did hire George Karl it would just be for long term savings. He probably wouldn't be here long. Alvin Gentry isn't really even being considered for the job. They just added him to the list to cover their true intentions. They really want to hire their unproven assistant David Joerger That  would give management  control they might not otherwise have with an established coach. In addition to getting a head coach for a high paid assistants cost.

This looks like an old R.C. Johnson move. Like when they hired Tic Price before they went all out for John Calipari. They played the role for a couple of years. Before their true motive was revealed. Isn't George Karl in remission? That's probably why Denver didn't extend his contract. If the Grizzlies did hire him it would just be a precursor to hiring David Joerger. A year from now Karl steps down due to health reasons. Then they give the job to you know who.

I think the Grizzlies are just using Karl and the rest of them as a bargaining tool. They want to keep Coach Hollins in negotiations until the top jobs are gone. Lionel Hollins is among  the top four or five professional coaches in the league.  But he is still among the lowest paid. Michael Heisley wasted all that time and money before finally giving Coach Hollins a chance. Heisley got a bargain by signing  Hollins before he proved himself.  Now the the balance is due. But  Heisley is not the owner anymore. The new owners don't want to pay him, but they are afraid to play him.