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A former Hall of Fame player looks to be a hot commodity for several teams on the prowl for new head coaches.
Current Charlotte Hornets assistant coach and former New York Knicks center Patrick Ewing is being considered by at least two teams as a candidate to take over their open head coach positions.
The Memphis Grizzlies have shown interest in having Ewing take over the team, and have already conducted an interview with him, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports. The Sacramento Kings also interviewed the 53-year-old before hiring ex-Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger on Monday.
Hornets asst. Patrick Ewing interviewed yesterday for the Memphis head coaching job, league sources say. Ewing also interviewed w/ Kings.
— Ken Berger (@KBergNBA) May 13, 2016
In addition to the Grizzlies, the Orlando Magic also have Ewing on their long list of coaching candidates, Berger reports.
Scott Skiles resigned as head coach of the Magic on Thursday, while the Grizzlies fired Joerger after their brief playoff stint came to an end. Orlando, in particular, is looking for someone to lock down the head coaching spot for the long run, as the team has cycled through three head coaches in the last two seasons (Jacque Vaughn, James Borrego, and Skiles).
Meanwhile, Memphis is looking for someone who can get them over the hump, having made the playoffs the last six years while only reaching the Western Conference finals one time, when they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in 2013. The Grizzlies were decimated by injuries this year and face a tough offseason, as point guard Mike Conley is a free agent who figures to be in high demand around the association.
If hired, Ewing will get his first NBA head coaching gig. Since 2002, he has served as an assistant coach with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets, Magic, and Bobcats. An 11-time All-Star, he spent most of his 17-year playing career with the Knicks before playing his final two seasons with the Seattle SuperSonics and the Magic. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
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