Three potential HC candidates for Grizzlies

On Friday, the Memphis Grizzlies made the shocking decision to fire head coach Taylor Jenkins. The 40-year-old was in his sixth season with the franchise. Jenkins had overseen 464 regular-season games in Memphis, winning 250 and losing 214. 

Assistant coach Tuomas Iisalo has taken control of the Grizzlies on an interim basis. He formerly coached Paris Basketball before making the jump to the NBA. 

Nevertheless, Memphis will be on the look out for Jenkins' long-term replacement. Here are three potential options to fill the vacant seat:

Frank Vogel

Vogel is a championship-caliber coach. His last head-coaching gig in the NBA was with the Phoenix Suns last season. He previously won a championship with the Los Angeles Lakers and has a reputation for being one of the better defensive-minded coaches in the NBA.

It's also worth noting that Vogel's replacement in Phoenix, Mike Budenholzer, has struggled for success. As such, the Suns' inconsistencies from last season can't be blamed on Vogel's coaching or approach.

With Jaren Jackson Jr. on the roster, Vogel would have a ready-made defensive lynchpin to build his blueprint around. He would ensure the Grizzlies were one of the best two-way teams in the NBA. Furthermore, he could likely get the best out of Ja Morant. 

Vogel has a 480-422 record as a head coach and a 49-43 record in the postseason. 

Sam Cassell 

Cassell has been patiently waiting for his shot to lead an NBA team. He's currently serving as an associate head coach for the Boston Celtics, working in tandem with Joe Mazzulla. 

Despite his inexperience leading a team, Cassell brings championship know-how — both as a player and as an assistant. Cassell would bring a fresh perspective to the Grizzlies and would likely deploy a different brand of basketball than what fans were used to under Jenkins.

However, Memphis may choose to go with a more proven commodity. Still, Cassell will likely be among the list of interviewees as he continues to seek out his big break in the NBA coaching world. 

James Borrego

During his four-year tenure with the Charlotte Hornets between 2018 and 2022, Borrego developed a reputation for being one of the most innovative, offensive-minded coaches in the NBA. During the summer of 2024, Borrego was among the front-runners for the Los Angeles Lakers job. 

Borrego would likely be a solid hire in terms of getting more out of Morant and Desmond Bane. He would also ensure the Grizzlies were one of the more aesthetically pleasing teams to watch. However, he would likely need a defensive specialist as a lead assistant. 

Despite leading a rebuilding and perennially disappointing Hornets team, Borrego still amassed a 44.7% win record. It stands to reason that he could do far better with a talented roster such as the Grizzlies. 

Honorable Mention: Mike D'Antoni

D'Antoni would join the Grizzlies for a good time, not a long time. His seven-seconds-or-less play style would turn Memphis into a high-octane two-way machine. 

While D'Antoni wouldn't be viewed as a long-term head coach, he could be a solid dice roll for a team that believes it has all the ingredients needed for a championship push. D'Antoni is currently working for the New Orleans Pelicans in an advisory role. 

At 73 years old, there's no telling whether D'Antoni would be interested in returning to the pressure-cooker environment of an NBA head-coaching role. Still, he's an interesting curveball to monitor.