NBA

Spurs hire Mitch Johnson as head coach

It’s a new era for the Spurs. This decision follows Gregg Popovich stepping down as head coach and transitioning to team president. The Popovich move was expected, and it’ll take some time to get used to a new man patrolling the sidelines in San Antonio.

This is a logical step for the organization. Johnson, after all, served as the Spurs’ interim head coach this season after Popovich took time away from the franchise after suffering a mild stroke. Good organizations prioritize continuity, so promoting Johnson will help keep the five-time NBA champions in tact.

San Antonio faces a massive, potentially franchise-altering offseason. The development of star center Victor Wembanyama is obviously the paramount objective, but further integrating De’Aaron Fox should be a priority, too. There’s also, of course, the upcoming NBA Draft Lottery. The Spurs sit eighth in lottery odds, so obtaining the right to select Cooper Flagg is a longshot, but the club will be in position to draft a young building block regardless. Suffice to say, San Antonio needs to nail this summer in order to position itself as a future contender.

Grade: A

Grizzlies hire Tuomas Iisalo as head coach

The Spurs rightfully opted for continuity in hiring Mitch Johnson, but the same can’t be said for the Grizzlies. Iisalo replaced Taylor Jenkins after he was fired in March, a shuffling of the deck that was supposed to reignite the franchise. It didn’t produce the intended results, however, as Memphis limped to the finish line in the regular season and went out with a whimper in the first round against the Thunder.

The situation in Memphis could conceivably improve moving forward. Ja Morant could benefit from a normal offseason. Jaren Jackson Jr. is a budding star. The bench remains arguably the deepest in the NBA. Those are all good things, but the Grizzlies could head south in a hurry, too. What if Morant never rediscovers his 2022 form? What if extension negotiations with Jaren Jackson Jr. become contentious? What if the roster becomes too expensive around Morant, Jackson Jr., and Desmond Bane. That’s a lot of ifs, and it’s fair to wonder if Iisalo is the right man to guide the franchise through a period of uncertainty.

Grade: C-