Report: Grizzlies' Pera wanted to fire Joerger after 1-on-1 game with Tony Allen fell through

The Memphis Grizzlies are coming off a second straight 50-win season, but the front office is a mess. 

Without a CEO or an assistant general manager, owner Robert Pera solved at least one of his problems when head coach Dave Joerger confirmed Sunday that he wouldn't flee Tennessee for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The stem of the Joerger-Pera drama dates back to last September, when Pera challenged Tony Allen to a game of one-on-one, according to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix:

Allen, on Twitter, accepted. Pera, a Silicon Valley billionaire who bought a small controlling interest in the Grizzlies in 2012, poured tens of thousands of dollars into producing the matchup. He invited the media and instructed the public relations staff to issue a press release promoting the event.

By the time Pera was ready to host the challenge, Allen had lost interest. 

Joerger, a first-year head coach, didn't like the idea of the game -- like many in the organization he found it goofy and unbecoming of a professional team, according to sources -- but it was Allen's indifference that caused it to be called off. Yet Pera directed his frustration at Joerger and, according to a source, directed upper management to fire him.

Mannix writes the clash was just one of many early in Joerger's first season as head coach. 

Pera reportedly suggested newly-signed Mike Miller be a player-coach, that Joerger wear an NFL-style headset to take instructions, and that he give significant minutes to Ed Davis in a November game.

The owner went on a tweet spree Sunday once Joerger's return was settled, but maybe an inherent problem with running an organization is the lack of communication. 

If Pera's tweet is accurate, he's managed to avoid speaking to Joerger for nearly a year. The head coach was hired on June 27, 2013, just over two weeks after the team announced Lionel Hollins wouldn't be returning for the 2013-14 season.