The firing of David Fizdale was a tough pill to swallow for plenty in NBA circles, one of them is his colleague Erik Spoelstra, who coached the Miami Heat along with Fizdale before he got his first shot at a head coaching gig with the Memphis Grizzlies to start the 2016-17 season.
Yet for many who expected a reunion between the two in South Beach, Spoelstra was quick to dismantle any perception of him making room to welcome him back.
“He's not doing that right now,” Spoelstra said prior to his team's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, according to Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. “He's going to take some time, as well he should. Since something like this happens so suddenly and shockingly, I think the best thing to do is to step back, which is what his plan is, and really disengage and then contemplate his next move.”
“He's a head coach. I would love to have him at least join us as a consultant or somebody to break some bread and share some wine, but that's not going to happen right now.”
The 43-year-old coach was part of two championships with Spoelstra, coaching the dynamic Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh during their four-year run in a Heat uniform, but Spoelstra said he would be fine after taking some time off.
“Fiz'll be fine,” Spoelstra said. “Look, he's a brilliant coach. I wouldn't even call him a young coach. He's a brilliant coach. He'll get another opportunity. But why does it even have to get to that, when every organization goes though those tough times?
“So, he can afford to be patient in his next move. Love to have him come visit us in Miami, but he's gonna ponder his next move and take his time.”
Fizdale was the second head coach fired this season after Earl Watson was fired three games into the 2017-18 campaign. While spots will be limited for a coach with only a year of experience, his rapport with players could set into an opening if the timing is right.
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