The Los Angeles Clippers are looking for a new head coach after getting rid of Vinny Del Negro despite winning the division and over 50 games and their top option is Lionel Hollins, head coach of the Grizzlies.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, the team will wait on the Grizzlies series to end before going hard at Hollins, who also is getting interest from the Bucks. Hollins has his contract up at the end of the season and while the Grizzlies want to keep him, the Bucks and Clippers will be going hard at him. Hollins has proven to be one of the best coaches in the league as he took his team to their first conference finals and despite going down 2-0 the team is on the rise overall.
The Clippers are making decisions based on what Chris Paul may want and after watching Hollins work with Mike Conley, he could be impressed by his style. The Grizzlies defeated the Slippers after going down 0-2 to start the series and it would be interesting to see Hollins on the other sidelines.
The Nets are also interested in Hollins, who is quickly becoming the number one coaching candidate for teams, although there is a good chance he stays as the team is on the rise and the new ownership group loves what he has done so far. The roster for the Clippers would be an interesting one to take over and while the Bucks would like him, there is little chance he will pick them over LA if he decided to leave.
The Grizzlies lost in overtime in Game 2 to the Spurs to go down 2-0 after 18 rebounds from Zach Randolph, but he played much better than in Game 1 when he had just two points. The Grizzlies came back from a 13 point deficit on a 15-2 run to force overtime, but they couldn't get the victory and are now in the same situation they were in when they played the Clippers in the first round.
"Source says Lionel Hollins is No. 1 on #Clippers list w/Byron Scott, Alvin Gentry. Team officials just relieved Sterling gave in, axed VDN."
