Reporting by Ramona Shelburne, Tim MacMahon and Michael C. Wright
The Memphis Grizzlies` decision to fire Taylor Jenkins has sent shockwaves through the NBA. It`s surprising considering how close Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors forward, was to joining Memphis as a free agent in the summer of 2023.
A source close to Green revealed to ESPN the seriousness of Green`s consideration to leave the Warriors, a team with whom he had secured four championships. He contemplated joining the Grizzlies, a young and rising team he had publicly clashed with during a heated playoff series the previous year.
Sources told ESPN that Green even alerted Warriors coach Steve Kerr and teammates Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson about his potential move to Memphis via a sign-and-trade. However, Warriors owner Joe Lacob and general manager Mike Dunleavy intervened with a four-year, $100 million extension, convincing Green to stay in Golden State.
The Grizzlies were genuinely interested in acquiring Green. They believed his experience, basketball IQ, and toughness were crucial for the franchise, especially after a disappointing season. Superstar point guard Ja Morant faced an eight-game suspension for brandishing a firearm on social media, and the team suffered a first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Team analysis indicated a need to replace forward Dillon Brooks, known for his boldness and physicality, with a more seasoned veteran. They sought someone with a similar competitive edge who Morant and talented young power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. would respect and learn from.
Green, despite his own controversial year with Golden State, was Memphis`s primary target. Sources indicated Memphis made a strong push to sign him, even offering more than Golden State, to entice him.
The Grizzlies` strong desire to sign Green stemmed from his understanding of both their potential, highlighted during the intense 2022 playoff series, and their areas for improvement.
“Memphis is going to get their reality check,” Green had stated after that series.
Since that peak in 2022, Memphis has indeed faced a reality check.
Ultimately, Memphis shifted focus to signing veteran Derrick Rose and trading for guard Marcus Smart to compensate for Brooks`s departure. Brooks`s toughness and work ethic were considered vital for the young Grizzlies` culture. However, the Smart acquisition did not yield the expected results, leading to his trade to Washington before this year`s deadline.
Sources also mentioned Memphis`s attempts to trade for Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith, recognizing the need for an elite wing defender to fill Brooks`s role.
The question remains whether Morant, Jackson, and Desmond Bane can develop into championship contenders as once predicted.
If they can, the Grizzlies believe the first step is the recent decision to replace coach Taylor Jenkins. In a move considered shockingly timed, Jenkins was fired just nine games before the playoffs.
The deeper reasons are complex but center on optimizing Morant`s performance. The Grizzlies feel they are running out of time to find the right leadership and direction to achieve this.
The day after Jenkins`s firing, Memphis general manager Zach Kleiman addressed the decision to dismiss the head coach and two assistants so late in the season.
“Urgency is a core principle of ours,” Kleiman stated. “My expectations are clarity of direction.”
He did not elaborate further on these points.
However, those close to the team understood the lack of clarity he alluded to.
Offensively, the Grizzlies` season became an experimental phase, testing radical European offensive concepts and spacing principles from hockey and soccer within the NBA. Implementing these concepts and gaining full player buy-in proved challenging.
Offensive Strategy and Coaching Changes
Two key figures, Tuomas Iisalo and Noah LaRoche, were brought in to architect the new offense, overseen by Jenkins. Iisalo, a Finnish coach known for innovative pick-and-roll offensive strategies, and LaRoche, a player development specialist from the San Antonio Spurs, aimed to implement an offense prioritizing spacing and minimizing pick-and-rolls and dribble handoffs.
Jenkins, despite his extensive NBA coaching experience, had not previously met either assistant before their interviews, according to a source.
The Grizzlies invested significantly, paying a seven-figure buyout for Iisalo from Paris Basketball and providing both Iisalo and LaRoche with substantial salaries. LaRoche`s prominent role in overhauling the team`s offensive system is particularly unusual for a second-row assistant. Memphis even hired LaRoche before Iisalo, planning to build the assistant coaching staff around him.
To accommodate these changes, Kleiman insisted Jenkins replace five long-term assistant coaches: Brad Jones, Blake Ahearn, Scoonie Penn, Vitaly Potapenko, and Sonia Raman.
Jenkins complied, aiming to be cooperative, although a league source noted, “Taylor shouldn`t have allowed that to happen.”
Jenkins personally informed each assistant coach at his home in Memphis, expressing his regret over the changes.
The front office believed a clean break was necessary to implement the new approach, severing ties with most personnel associated with the team’s prior methods.
“It was a total shock because we`d already had our exit meetings and were preparing for the summer,” a former assistant recounted. “We`d all gone away and returned to start work again. Taylor felt terrible about it. But they decided to move in a different direction.”
“Moving in a different direction” became a euphemism for navigating difficult situations. In this case, it accurately described the situation.
“They were fully committed to these new concepts,” another source explained.
The immediate, unintended consequence was signaling Jenkins`s precarious position to the league and the Grizzlies` players.
“Players are not naive,” a source stated. “They understand the implications when five assistants are fired after the season.”
With the challenge of getting players to embrace new, often unfamiliar, offensive strategies, the presence of two assistant coaches advocating different schemes undermined Jenkins`s authority.
Jenkins`s Background and Challenges
Jenkins had previously overcome challenges when Kleiman hired him as a first-time head coach in 2018. He had built a strong reputation as an assistant under Mike Budenholzer in Atlanta and Milwaukee. Despite a non-traditional path, graduating from Wharton School of Business and choosing NBA coaching over Wall Street, Jenkins quickly gained player respect through his work ethic, basketball IQ, and approachable personality. His ability to participate physically with players also helped.
However, this new situation presented a unique challenge.
“The principles we’re discussing, the off-ball movement, will be significantly different,” Jenkins explained at training camp held at Ensworth School in Nashville.
“We need to observe how our core offensive players adapt to the system and ensure everyone finds their place.”
Simplified, Memphis`s offense aimed for pace with purpose, minimizing dribbling. Quick scoring opportunities were prioritized, otherwise, the offense shifted to attacking and pressuring the defense. Parts of the offense relied on one-on-one player matchups without screens.
Initially, Morant appeared receptive to the new concepts. “I’m seeing many different looks now,” Morant commented. “More catch-and-shoot opportunities, back cuts, catching on the run. It fits my game and allows for better looks without needing to create as much.”
However, when asked about playing off-ball more, Morant’s response was less enthusiastic: “If that’s what it is. Whatever coach wants, I’m fine with it.”
Morant and Offensive System Shift
Despite his talent, Morant has not excelled in pick-and-roll plays, ranking below average according to ESPN Research.
Morant averages only 0.99 points per direct pick as the ball handler when using an on-ball screen, ranking 39th among 56 players since 2019-20. His effective field goal percentage on jumpers off on-ball screens is also low at 44.7%.
An offense less reliant on pick-and-rolls is potentially advantageous for a team centered around Morant’s strengths.
LaRoche’s system replaces pick-and-rolls with player relocations, creating space and quick, high-quality shots. Iisalo’s role focused on pace and transition offense, areas where Morant excels.
Initial Success and Subsequent Decline
Statistically, the new approach initially yielded impressive results. The Grizzlies led the NBA in scoring and pace and ranked second in offensive rebounding, starting with a 35-16 record. Jackson’s versatile skills thrived, averaging 22.4 points with a 59.7% true shooting percentage.
Memphis significantly reduced ball screens, averaging 40.4 per game, the lowest in the league. Their total ball screens and dribble handoffs per game were also the lowest in the NBA since tracking began in 2013-14.
Opponents appeared confused by the new offense, and Memphis capitalized. Draymond Green acknowledged their unconventional approach, noting its uniqueness in the NBA.
However, the initial novelty faded. Opponents adjusted, and injuries mounted. Jackson missed games in March due to an ankle sprain, and Morant was in and out of the lineup with various injuries. Morant returned for the game after Jenkins’s firing.
As the season progressed, issues emerged. The new offense performed well against weaker teams but struggled against stronger opponents. A loss to Oklahoma City on February 8 marked the start of a negative trend. Since then, the Grizzlies have lost 11 consecutive games against teams with winning records.
A major concern was Morant’s role within the offense. Instead of enhancing his game, the system seemed to limit his ball-handling. Morant’s touches, touch length, and dribbles per touch decreased to career lows. His scoring average and field goal percentage also declined.
Morant reportedly expressed his frustrations privately and publicly. As the Grizzlies struggled post-All-Star break, pressure intensified. One Western Conference GM even speculated the team might consider trading Morant in the summer.
Jenkins attempted adjustments, incorporating more pick-and-roll sets. In March, pick-and-roll and handoff plays increased significantly.
On March 7, against Dallas, Morant led a comeback victory, scoring 11 points in the final minutes, all from pick-and-roll or isolation plays, reminiscent of his older style. Morant’s celebratory demeanor contrasted sharply with his season’s general mood.
“A little bit of Ja, the old Ja,” Morant described his performance.
When asked how often he felt like his old self this season, Morant replied, “Not at all.”
Had Memphis won more during this period, these adjustments might have been seen positively. However, the Grizzlies continued to struggle, regressing both offensively and defensively. Their defense, once a strength, ranked poorly since the All-Star break. Their record since the break was also underwhelming.
Locker Room Discord and Final Decision
The prevailing sentiment within the Grizzlies organization was that Jenkins had “lost the locker room,” a predictable outcome after the summer coaching staff overhaul. The internal perception was that players, especially Morant, had tuned out Jenkins.
“That team has lost all of [its] swagger,” a rival player observed. Team discord became visible, with players bickering during huddles. An incident involving Bane and Aldama during a game went viral, highlighting team tensions.
“You could just tell no one was on the same page,” a team source noted.
Despite these issues, the Grizzlies were still in a relatively good position, fifth in the Western Conference when Jenkins was fired, with Morant’s return imminent.
Their expected first-round opponent, the Lakers, were also struggling. Kleiman weighed all options and decided the urgency to see the core group perform outweighed waiting and hoping Jenkins could turn things around before the playoffs. The initial expectation was for Jenkins to be evaluated after a potential first-round playoff exit, but Kleiman decided against waiting.
Jenkins, along with assistants LaRoche and St. Andrews, were fired. Iisalo was promoted to interim head coach, tasked with clarifying the offensive vision. The hope is that a new voice will resonate with and elevate the team`s core, which has stagnated since the 2022 Warriors series.
Memphis hopes to mirror the Cavaliers` success this season under a new coach by sticking with their core and making necessary adjustments. The Grizzlies are committed to extending Jackson and Aldama this summer, and Kleiman has publicly affirmed commitment to Morant.
These decisions, and a shift back to a pick-and-roll-heavy offense under Iisalo, signal Memphis’s deep commitment to Morant. However, doubts persist across the league about whether Morant, despite his talent, can lead a franchise to contention.
“Does he sell tickets? Yes,” a rival GM conceded. “Is he a top-25 player when healthy? Yes. Can he win multiple series as the best player? No. Not sure most years you can win even one. Plus, he is always hurt.”
The fundamental question remains: Is the Grizzlies’ core good enough to contend for a title?
Three years ago, the answer seemed clear. But in the NBA, time moves rapidly, and Memphis is facing another reality check.
