Houston Rockets Stephen Silas currently holds the position as Rockets head coach, but Houston is widely expected by league officials to make a change on its bench once his contract concludes at the end of this season. Silas was originally hired during the 2020 offseason, when all coaching candidates, sources told Yahoo Sports, were required to meet with James Harden and Russell Westbrook. A pair of trade requests then led to both former MVPs departing Texas and sent the Rockets into a three-year rebuild, in which Rafael Stone’s front office has directed a prioritization of playing time for Houston’s young draft picks — highlighted by John Wall’s extended absence from the team during the 2021-22 campaign. The Rockets, sources said, hold an organizational goal of taking significant strides toward postseason contention next season, armed with upward of $61 million in salary cap space this summer. Harden has loomed as a key target for the Rockets, sources told Yahoo Sports, with an opportunity to decline his player option with the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2023-24 campaign. And several potential coaching candidates — in addition to Nurse — whom league personnel have connected to the Rockets have a shared history with Harden. Scott Brooks, currently an assistant with Portland, coached the Oklahoma City Thunder before Harden was dealt to the Rockets in 2012. Rex Kalamian, a current Pistons assistant coach, has also been mentioned by multiple NBA figures as a possible Houston coaching addition, perhaps as an assistant coach, with respect to his relationship with Harden since serving on Brooks’ OKC staff.
Scotty Brooks? We've come full circle. More isoball hooray. That style will only work if Harden says yes, I do.
He won’t get offered the Clippers job so it’s moot. Nurse either ends up here, Charlotte or as an assistant with the Spurs where he will take over for Pop.
You are right on both counts. Clearly you have not drank the Nick Nurse is a coaching gawd kool-aid. He clashes with star players and cannot develop young players. So who is on our team? Again, like I said, the Nurse’s, Atkinson’s, McMillian’s, and Karl’s of the world are done. You need guys who can get buy in from star players so that they want to come here and stay here. Not someone who is gonna run guys off.
Toooooooootally disagree on Atkinson, but otherwise yes I agree let's get a modern coach who has a chance of understanding and inspiring players that wear dresses and nail polish off the court. It's a new era, look at the Knicks running a dead end program with Thibs. Team is winning in a market competitive with LA but they still haven't attracted a top tier FA. I've never understand why people like to create resistance everywhere. You only create resistance in the most important thing you want to change (on court performance, practice, etc). With everything else go with the flow, so just make these guys love the game. Assistants take care of all the technical stuff these days, we need someone who is so successful (championship experience) the kids dare not ignore or challenge him.
https://raptorsrapture.com/2023/04/07/bill-simmons-confirms-rumors-nick-nurse-raptors-rockets/ Bill Simmons confirms rumors of Nick Nurse leaving Raptors for Rockets by Mike Luciano7 hours ago Follow @ByMikeLuciano The Toronto Raptors, one of the most stable organizations in the league for the last decade, have been hit with some serious shockwaves in recent days. Not only is Nick Nurse threatening to leave, but he already has a potential landing spot out in the ether in the Houston Rockets.
I think this site has ties to sports media outlets bc the fact Kenny Atkinson's name keeps getting thrown out is pure propaganda. That guy hasn't accomplished anything yet he's the guy to turn this ship around? Foolishness. Mark Jackson has given us the blueprint in how to turn a franchise around
Curious what Brown's relationship was like with Udoku during his year in Boston and whether rumours of both to Houston is or could be a legitimate reuniting.
If Rockets decide to bring back former Vipers HC Nurse, they should retain Abdelfattah and Lucas and add the Vipers current HC, keep it all in house
Nurse checks all the boxes. He’s an NBA champion, had a successfully stint with the rockets organization, is not Stephen Silas.
God help us if they're considering Scott Brooks. He's another nice guy coach who doesn't bother to implement X-Os and will let star players walk all over him (so won't surprise me if that's who Harden wants if he comes back).
Bringing in a head coach with a championship resume is important (even though Toronto's title came as a result of Golden State's debilitating injuries to their stars in the Finals). We need our young players to respect the head coach, and we need a head coach with the gravitas to put these youngsters in their place. Silas obviously created a mess that requires a mature adult to clean up.
Sources say the Rockets’ initial coaching candidates are expected to be Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, former Lakers coach Frank Vogel, ex-Hornets coach James Borrego, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin and ex-Celtics coach Ime Udoka. The Rockets are expected to have a list of about eight candidates, according to sources. — The Athletic
