Utah Jazz assistant Alex Jensen is making the interview rounds

Alex Jensen has long been thought of as one of the NBA’s top coaching prospects. Now, the Utah Jazz assistant could make a move to the front of someone’s bench.

The coaching carousel continues to turn in the NBA, with multiple jobs open around the league (as per usual). That’s one area where the Utah Jazz are set; Quin Snyder has undoubtedly established himself as one of the game’s best basketball minds and he won’t be leaving any time soon.

Having said that, the number of head coaching opportunities out there now could still have a massive effect on Snyder’s staff, particularly as relates to Alex Jensen. The assistant coach is already out there making moves to secure a spot at the front of an NBA bench.

Per a report from The Athletic’s Tony Jones, Jensen interviewed with the Memphis Grizzlies about their coaching vacancy on Tuesday. The Grizz fired their previous head coach, JB Bickerstaff, in April after his team finished 33-49 and failed to qualify for postseason play.

On the surface, Jensen makes a lot of sense for the Grizzlies. Given his track record as a player development specialist, they’re just the kind of rebuilding squad he could he could really sink his teeth into. Particularly with big man Jaren Jackson, Jr. already there to build around.

Jensen has played a key role in the development of Rudy Gobert into an all-world big for the Jazz. He’s also helped Derrick Favors flourish in his role with the team.

Elsewhere, multiple sources have also named Jensen as a candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers coaching gig. Again, we’re talking about a young/rebuilding team that could use a coach of Jensen’s ilk to help it achieve a return to prominence with a new core of players.

Jensen also happens to have history with the Cavs organization. He was head coach of their G-League affiliate, the Canton Charge, from 2011 to 2013 and was even honored as the developmental league’s Coach of the Year following his second season.

Needless to say, if Jensen gets one of these or any other job around the Association, it would be a major blow to Snyder’s staff. The Jazz have evolved into one of the top teams league-wide in terms of developing young guys to their full potential and achieving the maximum possible results with players that may be lacking in athleticism or overall talent. Jensen has been a big part of that.

If he does go, the Jazz could look to Igor Kokoskov to take his seat. Kokoskov left the Jazz under similar circumstances last summer, but was ultimately fired by the Phoenix Suns after just one season. However, there’s no word on whether Kokoskov would be interested in a return to Salt Lake City or another assistant job.

If you’re a Jazz fan, you should probably be pulling hard for Jensen to stay put and Kokoskov to come back. In the end, though, Jensen’s days in Jazzland could be numbered. Good coaches are hard to find and Jensen has established himself as head-coaching material at the NBA level.