<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">As the NBA coaching carousel continues to turn, the likelihood of Grizzlies assistant Eric Musselman departing this summer gets stronger by the minute. Don't think a vacant seat on the Grizzlies' bench would stay cold long with Musselman as a serious candidate for the head coaching job in Cleveland, Orlando and Minnesota. Former Griz head coach Sidney Lowe is considered the No. 1 choice to join Mike Fratello's staff, according to insiders. Lowe worked under Fratello for several seasons in Cleveland, and they still enjoy a long and close relationship. Wouldn't that be a hoot? Lowe replaced Lionel Hollins as head coach shortly after Chicago billionaire Michael Heisley bought the team in 2000. Lowe then brought back Hollins after his second season and before he "resigned" eight games into his third. Now Fratello will strongly recommend that Lowe is added to his bench if there is a vacancy for the 2005-06 campaign. Of course, Fratello must first be sure that there are no lingering problems with Lowe, who was a) given three different teams to coach in three seasons, undermined by Jason Williams and c) not fully supported by recently departed general manager Dick Versace. Why bring back Lowe? There are a few legitimate reasons, including a) He's a vastly experienced teacher as an assistant and two-time head man; Lowe is responsible for the quick development of Pau Gasol and Shane Battier; c) Lowe would give Fratello a right-hand man -- someone intimately familiar with his style and philosophy. Fratello had no previous coaching relationship with the staff he inherited. Griz president Jerry West hired Musselman and re-assigned Mitchell Anderson (a Lowe disciple) to the bench once Hubie Brown retired for "health reasons." </div> Source
