MEMPHIS – Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and newly-minted fulltime head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t mince words about their joint expectations heading into next season.
“Our identity won’t change either way,” Bickerstaff said Wednesday as he was formally promoted from the interim role to a three-year contract as the 13th head coach in franchise history. “We’re planning on success. We’re planning on a playoff run.”
Wednesday represented the start of a clean slate for Bickerstaff and the Grizzlies, who are regrouping from a 22-60 finish that left the team out of the NBA playoffs for the first time in eight years.