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Word around the NBA is that Lionel Hollins, the Grizzlies coach and an object of the Nets affection, is not happy with the ownership and management down in Memphis, that as a free agent, he may be ready to receive other offers. In fact, Peter Vecsey tweeted earlier in the week that his agent, Warren LeGarie, has spoken to "at least 1 team, probably 2, re what'll take 2 sign FA Lionel Hollins should terms scare off MG."
Hollins spoke with Dan Patrick Friday about his contract situation and playing the Spurs in the Western Conference Finals. He said he "expects" to be back with the Grizzlies, but in a long answer to Patrick's question, "Why arent you under contract for next season?," Hollins didn't exactly endorse his bosses, other than to say they and he are now on the same page.
His full answer to Patrick...
"Well, I think because new ownership came in right at the beginning of the season and they didn't know me. They didn't know where they were going and as we've gone along, we've meshed personality wise and we meshed in terms of our goals and they saw that I wasn't any different than where they were in what I wanted to be and what I wanted to do, from a basketball perspective.
Then, at that point, it was into the season and not wanting to do through a protracted negotiation, from their perspective. I don't think it would have been protracted, but that's my opinion. I understand that and I've been on one-year contracts as an assistant coach and your contract comes up and you go get another one. If you don't get renewed --and I was fortunate to have that happen only a couple of times-- you move on to another team, but it's not as big an issue as everyone tries to make it out to be. It could have been an issue because players know when coaches are lame ducks. Fortunately for me, I have a very good group that saw the bigger picture and saw it wasn't just about me and whether or not I was going to be there. It was about them and they wanted to be as good as they could be."