Miami Heat's assistant coach David Fizdale has been contacted to be the head bench tactician of the Memphis Grizzlies, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations.

The insider said that on Wednesday Erik Spoelstra's lead assistant met with Grizzlies controlling owner Robert Pera in California, where he was offered the job. The insider spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Southwest Division team is not commenting on specific candidates.

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Fizdale, who used to play basketball as a point guard with the Fremont High School, will be replacing Dave Joerger, who was fired by the Grizzlies on May 7 after three seasons and three consecutive playoff appearances.

The Memphis coaching position would be the first head coaching job for Fizdale.  Since the 2008-09 season, he has been with the Heat and has been the team's assistant head coach for the past two seasons.

Former Heat and current Grizzlies guard Mario Chalmers is said to have approved the move. Chalmers played for Miami from 2008 to 2015 before being traded to Memphis last year.

"Fizz to Memphis huh. I like that move. Great coach and even a better person. Happy for my guy Fizz," Chalmers wrote on Twitter.

The 41-year-old Fizdale was with the Golden State Warriors in 2003-04 as an assistant coach and served the Atlanta Hawks between 2004 and 2008 in the same capacity. He began coaching as an assistant at his alma mater, the University of San Diego, in 1998 to 2002.

Memphis finished the regular season with 42 wins and 40 losses to enter the conference playoffs as the seventh-seeded team, despite being battered by injuries which forced the team to an NBA-record of 28 players this season. The Grizzlies faced the league's top defensive team San Antonio Spurs and lost the series after being swept in the opening round.

TagsNBA, Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, david fizdale, Mario Chalmers, dave joerger