Memphis Grizzlies: 5 Best Candidates to Replace Dave Joerger

1. Ettore Messina

Ettore Messina is one of the greatest coaches to never hold a leading gig in the NBA. A four-time Euroleague champion who’s won a combined 11 league titles in the Italian, Russia, and VTB United leagues, Messina has as impressive a resume as any.

There may be better coaches—and that’s certainly debatable—but Messina is the perfect fit for the Memphis Grizzlies.

During Messina’s glorious career on the international scene, he built a system that depended heavily on the strengths of his big men. That alone makes him an intriguing option, as Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are two of the best interior players in the NBA.

It stands to reason that Gasol would thrive under Messina’s lead.

For the Grizzlies to properly execute Messina’s vision, they’d need to surround Gasol and Randolph with sharpshooting wings. The system is played through the big men, which holds true to Memphis’ previous philosophies, but is done with more precision and structure in the half court.

If Memphis is looking to finally break through as a contending team, Messina could be the coach to get the job done.

More hoops habit: Who should the Indiana Pacers hire to replace Frank Vogel as head coach?

Regardless of whom the Grizzlies hire, the front office will have a long summer ahead of it as it attempts to execute an immediate reload.