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Memphis Grizzlies working on deal to make J.B. Bickerstaff full-time head coach

By Tony East

MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 18: Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies directs the team during a team practice on March 20, 2018 at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - MARCH 18: Head Coach J.B. Bickerstaff of the Memphis Grizzlies directs the team during a team practice on March 20, 2018 at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Memphis Grizzlies opted not to go with a head coaching search and instead are finalizing a deal to bring on interim head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to be full-time coach.

After firing David Fizdale after just 19 games, the Memphis Grizzlies had a head coach opening this season. For the final 63 games, the front office chose to fill that opening with an interim coach, and they gave the reins to J.B. Bickerstaff.

That move may now become a permanent fixture in Memphis. Yahoo! Sports‘ Shams Charania reported on Thursday that the Grizzlies are working toward a deal to make Bickerstaff the new permanent head coach in Memphis.

In his story, Charania reported that the deal would be for multiple seasons:

"“Bickerstaff and the Grizzlies have been in serious discussions on a new multiyear deal over the past several days, league sources said. Bickerstaff had meetings with Grizzlies management before the regular season ended, and sat down with ownership in recent weeks, league sources said.”"

J.B. Bickerstaff coached the team to a paltry 15-48 record during his interim tenure and led the Grizzlies to the second-worst record in the entire league, but the front office apparently thinks that with a healthy roster and an offseason as the head coach, Bickerstaff is the right man for the job.

What Bickerstaff had going in his favor is praise from multiple Grizz players throughout the season. Marc Gasol was one of the first to chime in, telling Ronald Tillery of the Commercial Appeal:

"“He’s been great,” Gasol said about Bickerstaff.“He’d try to mediate with me and Fizdale. He’s always so positive. He always helps me understand, ‘Do your job. Control what you can control and the rest will take care of itself.’ Our communication has been really good.”"

The praises for Bickerstaff did not stop at the star big man. Chandler Parsons had pleasant things to say about the new head coach too:

"“He is a player’s coach. Guys respect him. He lets us play, at the same time, he’s strict and he gets his point across…Everyone in the locker room, I think, would approve that we want him as the head coach.”"

Parson’s should be one of the guys whose opinion about Bickerstaff resonates the loudest. Parsons played under him when he was the interim coach in Houston. Back on the Rockets, Bickerstaff did a little better. He had a 37-34 record and got the Rockets to the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs. That team finished with a .500 record, so Bickerstaff having a winning percentage above that is impressive, and he was even able to win a playoff game against the 73-win Golden State Warriors.

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This will be Bickerstaff’s first full-time head coaching gig, and with some notable free agent coaches still available, the move comes as somewhat of a surprise for the Memphis Grizzlies. Since Bickerstaff resonated so well with the players, perhaps he is the right call. The front office seems to think so, since they’re working on a multi-year deal. Whether or not that is actually the case, we will have to wait and see.

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