J.B. Bickerstaff served as the interim head coach during the 2017-18 NBA season after the Memphis Grizzlies fired David Fizdale, but the team is now trying to make that a permanent position.
According to Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports, Bickerstaff and the Grizzlies are laying out the framework of an official promotion.
The Memphis Grizzlies and interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff are working on a framework of deal to make Bickerstaff the new head coach, league sources tell Yahoo.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 26, 2018
Following a 71-game interim run with the Houston Rockets, Bickerstaff joined the Memphis staff as an assistant in 2016. The Grizzlies made the playoffs during his first season with the team.
However, a 7-12 start to the 2017-18 campaign combined with unrest in the locker room led the organization to fire Fizdale.
Bickerstaff stepped into the lead role and oversaw a 15-48 finish, which wasn’t a surprise since an injury sidelined All-Star guard Mike Conley all season.
Bickerstaff will now lead a team with Conley, Marc Gasol and a top pick from the 2018 NBA draft. At 22-60, the Grizzlies had the second-worst record in the league.