According to John Rohde in The Oklahoman‘s recap of last night’s Grizzlies-Thunder game, Lionel Hollins had this to say about the Grizzlies’ trade of Rudy Gay to the Toronto Raptors:

When you have champagne taste, you can’t be on a beer budget. It’s a small market and I understand the economics of being in a small market.

So. Take this little quote nugget, combined with the fact that Hollins was openly lobbying for the trade not to be made, combined with the fact that Hollins played recent acquisition Jon Leuer 5 minutes in a game where he only had nine players in uniform, and it’s starting to look like Lionel Hollins is trying not to get a contract extension.

You really have to wonder what Hollins’ strategy here is. I dunno. He’s a guy that speaks his mind, and always says exactly what he thinks, but it does seem like he’s needling the front office in the media whenever he gets an opportunity. Which might not be great for his tenure as the Grizzlies’ head coach.

• Oklahoma City Thunder notebook: Thunder start dooms Memphis, John Rohde, The Oklahoman