The one plus to Thursday's firing of Grizzlies coach Marc Iavaroni was the report that deposed 76ers coach Mo Cheeks would join Lionel Hollins in Memphis as an assistant. Cheeks, you'd assume, would try his hand at developing O.J. Mayo's point guard skills and fixing Mike Conley.Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Cheeks will not join Hollins in Memphis, however.
Hollins had extended an invitation to Cheeks, fired last month by the Sixers, and got an early indication that Cheeks would come.This would seem to rule out a Cheeks hire this summer, though you never know. I wish the best of luck to Hollins, and I hope the Grizz get back on the promising track the team has left since Christmas. But ... Hollins is not an encouraging hire. Losing Cheeks as a mentor for the young backcourt just emphasizes that.
"But he decided he wanted a little more time to himself," Hollins said. "I certainly understand that. He'll have opportunities later."
