Barring a deep playoff run still (odds ~ 1%), Emery has every reason to fire Lovie. The only question to ask is: is he the HC to take us to a SB win? I'm glad to read that is indeed the criteria being used reportedly. The answer obviously is no. Lovie consistently fails to win big games against marquee competition, misses the PO too often, underperforms when he does make it, and has a long history of poor staffing decisions on offense.
As Benj said, no GM would take the job if he didn't have free reign to act as he sees fit. Heck, many probably wouldn't have taken it if there was a one year "no touch" clause attached to the HC as there was for Emery last offseason. No way Emery wouldn't have made darn sure that, if he agreed to wait a year, he wouldn't have any restrictions or interference after that.
Anything less than a playoff run and retaining Lovie would make Emery look like a puppet and a figurehead (whether true or not). He would lose all credibility as a dynamic new GM with the fans. I do believe Emery will clean house possibly as soon as next week.

