Taylor Jenkins

Grizzlies Interview Bucks’ Jenkins For Head Coaching Job

Yet another name has surfaced in the Grizzlies‘ head coaching search, as Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that Bucks assistant Taylor Jenkins has interviewed for Memphis’ open coaching position.

This is the first we’ve heard of Jenkins receiving head coaching consideration, but he has quietly built a strong résumé over the course of his NBA career.

Beginning in 2007, Jenkins spent several seasons with the Spurs, eventually being promoted to the head coach of the franchise’s G League team in Austin. As Chris Herrington of The Memphian points out (via Twitter), that makes Jenkins the third former G League head coach interviewed by the Grizzlies this spring, joining Alex Jensen and Nate Tibbetts.

Following his time in San Antonio, Jenkins joined Mike Budenholzer‘s staff in Atlanta, serving as a Hawks assistant beginning in 2013. A year ago, he made the move to Milwaukee, once again working under Budenholzer as an assistant for the Bucks.

Jenkins is the sixth known candidate to have interviewed for the Grizzlies’ head coaching vacancy, along with Jensen, Tibbetts, Jarron Collins, Igor Kokoskov, and Adrian Griffin.

Central Notes: Pacers, Budenholzer, Bulls, Tate

The Pacers will host their first pre-draft workout tomorrow morning and it too will consist of six participants, per an official release from the team. The highest rated players are UNLV big man Brandon McCoy and Wichita State guard Landry Shamet.

ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has Shamet coming off the board at No. 50 in the second round to the Pacers, so it makes sense that he’d be one of the first prospects they brought in. The Pacers also have the No. 23 overall selection. Meanwhile, McCoy is rated as the No. 70 overall prospect by Givony.

In addition to Shamet and McCoy, the Pacers will also host Jaylen Adams (St. Bonaventure), Marcus Foster (Creighton), Nick King (Middle Tennessee State), and Yante Maten (Georgia).

There is more tonight from the Central Division:

Odds & Ends: Jenkins, Wizards, Warriors, Amnesty

It’s already been a busy night, as news broke of Andrei Kirilenko‘s deal with the Nets followed shortly after by word that the Lakers would amnesty Metta World Peace.  Here are some other odds and ends from around the NBA on Thursday night:

  • The Hawks have named Taylor Jenkins as an assistant coach, the team announced
    today in a press release.  Jenkins had most recently been the head coach of the D-League’s Austin Toros.
  • The Wizards are in no rush to fill their final roster spot,
    since they want to have flexibility for when the right player comes along,
    according to GM Ernie Grunfeld (Twitter link).  Grunfeld sounded optimistic about the team’s offseason today, as the Wiz wrapped us their summer minicamp, writes Gene Wang of the Washington Post.
  • The Wiz cut ties with roster longshots Josh Boone, Kevin Dillard and James Harris today, tweets Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
  • Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News outlines how the Warriors front office has changed the way the team is viewed around the NBA, to the point where he says Golden State has “switched places” with the Lakers.  Kawakami also provides a transcript of Andre Iguodala‘s introductory press conference.
  • Now that the Lakers have amnestied World Peace, only 12 teams remain that haven’t utilized the provision and within those teams, only 30 players are left that fit the criteria for amnesty eligibility.  Here is the list, courtesy of Marc Stein of ESPN.

Texas Rumors: Mayo, Brand, Collison, Spurs

"The Texas Triangle" has long been the NBA's equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle, as teams have rarely gone undefeated on a three-game swing through Houston, Dallas and San Antonio. It might not be as much of a challenge this year, with the Rockets in flux, but if road-weary teams have to go to Houston on a back-to-back after facing the Spurs or Mavs, the Rockets could pick up a few extra wins this year. Here's the latest Lone Star news:

  • Chauncey Billups, recalling his growth under coach Rick Carlisle when they were together with the Pistons, persuaded O.J. Mayo to sign with the Mavs, Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas.com writes.
  • Elton Brand is entering the final year of his deal after the Mavs claimed him off amnesty waivers from the Sixers, but he told the Ben and Skin show on ESPNDallas 103.3 that he'd be willing to come off the bench, something he's done only 30 times in 860 career regular season games.
  • Mavs point guard Darren Collison, also heading into a contract year, spoke about his goals for the season with HoopsWorld, as part of a larger roundup by Bill Ingram.
  • The Spurs announced via press release that the Austin Toros, their D-League affiliate, have hired Taylor Jenkins as head coach.
  • Carmelo Anthony gives the Rockets front office credit for snaring Jeremy Lin away from the Knicks, as we noted earlier.