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The Cleveland Cavaliers should pursue Dave Fizdale

By Nicholas Gonzalez

MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 27: Head coach David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies speaks to the media prior to Game Six the Western Conference Quarterfinals game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 27, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN - APRIL 27: Head coach David Fizdale of the Memphis Grizzlies speaks to the media prior to Game Six the Western Conference Quarterfinals game against the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 NBA Playoffs at FedExForum on April 27, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /
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Should the Cleveland Cavaliers consider hiring Dave Fizdale, after he was ousted from Memphis?

After an egregious firing, veteran NBA coach Dave Fizdale is back on the open market. While the Cleveland Cavaliers aren’t exactly in the market for a new head coach – in fact Tyronn Lue just signed a five-year contract extension just last summer – adding Fizdale is an option they should explore.

Fizdale worked with LeBron James and Dwayne Wade in Miami from 2008 all the way until their respective departures. He won two rings with them and made four-straight NBA Finals. Also, he never had a losing season as an assistant in Miami. That good track record got him his first head coaching job with the Memphis Grizzlies.

In the Music City, Fizdale did great for what he was handed. The Grizzlies roster is far from great, but Fizdale still took them to the playoffs as a 7th seed. On top of that, he took the San Antonio Spurs to six games in the team’s first round of the playoffs last season. That’s pretty good, especially in your first season.

The Memphis Grizzlies would start slow this season and Fizdale would be the fall man, which meant he would be fired. Even though the Grizzlies were undefeated with star point guard Mike Conley in the lineup. Anyways, that isn’t my point. Fizdale is an excellent NBA coach, arguably one of the best in the league (in my humble opinion).

The biggest reason why the Cavaliers should pursue the former Grizzlies head coach as an assistant is quite simple. Assuming that LeBron, Wade and Fizdale have a great working relationship – and there’s no reason to believe that they don’t – adding another great basketball mind to this staff won’t hurt.

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Fizdale has a wealth of experience, and might actually be a better coach than Tyronn Lue. But because there’s no way the Cavs fire Lue, hiring Fizdale as an assistant would be the next best thing. For a team that could use any and every advantage they can get against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, the opportunity to add an asset such as Fizdale (if he’s open to it) can’t be wasted.

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