Feb 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, center, reacts during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Grizzlies Looking to Acquire Top Dallas Mavericks Coach

Originally posted on Memphis Grizzlies on SI
By Matt Guzman | Last updated Jun 15, 2025 4:59 PM ET

Fresh off the first blockbuster trade of the offseason, the Memphis Grizzlies might be looking to refresh their coaching staff behind newly named head coach Tuomas Iisalo.

Memphis sent Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic Sunday morning in exchange for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four unprotected first-round picks and a first-round pick swap. Now, it's targeting several names to fill a vacancy as Iisalo's top assistant.

"Former Bucks head coach Adrian Griffin, Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley and Magic assistant coach Dale Osbourne are still in contention for the No. 1 seat on Tuomas Iisalo's bench in Memphis," Marc Stein, citing league sources, wrote in his recent Substack.

REPORT: Sean Sweeney, Jared Dudley, and God Shammgod are all receiving interest from other NBA teams for assistant coaching roles, per @TheSteinLine

Sweeney is receiving interest from the Spurs. Dudley is receiving interest from the Grizzlies and Cavaliers. The Magic and Jamahl… pic.twitter.com/F7cka40pLG
— MFFL NATION (@NationMffl) June 15, 2025

Iisalo's role in Memphis had been written on the wall even before he was named Taylor Jenkins' successor. In the offseason preceding Jenkins' dismissal, Iisalo was hired by the Grizzlies to serve as the lead assistant without Jenkins having met him. Soon after, Jenkins was pressured to fire the rest of his coaching staff before being ousted himself.

Now, the Grizzlies have made clear what they're hoping for behind Iisalo.

More assistant coach interview news from @TheSteinLine: the Grizzlies have interviewed Adrian Griffin for a spot on Iisalo's coaching staff. Griffin was the Bucks head coach for 43 games in 2023-24 season (30-13 record), was an assistant for 15 years -- including for the 2019… https://t.co/sJGlgPdq2r
— Parker Fleming (@PAKA_FLOCKA) June 7, 2025

"The Grizzlies are said to be looking for a top aide to Iisalo who can forge a strong connection with Morant," Stein wrote.

This, Memphis fell in four games to the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. With Morant still in control of the roster — and Bane departing — there will be room for flexibility roster-wise.

Perhaps the Grizzlies want to extend that flexibility to their coaching staff as well.

This article first appeared on Memphis Grizzlies on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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