The Rockets are off to a reasonably strong start this season, with their 15-7 record good for fourth in the Western Conference. However, Houston’s play hasn’t necessarily made Mike D’Antoni‘s position as head coach any more secure.
According to John Hollinger and Sam Amick of The Athletic, a source with direct knowledge of the Rockets’ situation expressed “serious skepticism” that D’Antoni will still be the head coach in Houston beyond this season. In the view of that source, any result short of a Rockets championship this season probably means the odds are “slim” that D’Antoni returns in 2020/21.
While it seems unlikely that the Rockets would make an in-season coaching change unless things really go south, a few teams around the NBA may look ahead to next spring and consider the possibility of pursuing D’Antoni should he become available, according to Hollinger and Amick.
Here are a few more head coaching notes and rumors from The Athletic’s duo:
- A number of factors are working in Alvin Gentry‘s favor when it comes to his job security. The Pelicans haven’t been healthy, head of basketball operations David Griffin has a history with Gentry, and team owner Gayle Benson also thinks highly of New Orleans’ head coach. Plus, Gentry is under contract for the 2020/21 season, and his salary for next year is believed to be worth $5MM+, a source tells Hollinger and Amick.
- League sources tell The Athletic that Bulls head of basketball operations John Paxson continues to be a fan of Jim Boylen and his “tough-love approach.” However, Boylen’s defensive scheme has drawn some criticism and Chicago has the league’s 29th-ranked offense. According to Hollinger and Amick, Boylen also remains unpopular in the Bulls’ locker room. The Athletic duo wonders if an organizational overhaul that affects both Boylen and the front office could be in the cards next year if the team’s struggles continue.
- League sources continue to speculate that Kansas head coach Bill Self could be a potential successor for Gregg Popovich when the Spurs‘ longtime head coach opts to retire, per Hollinger and Amick. Self has been close friends with San Antonio executive R.C. Buford since they attended college together at Oklahoma State.
Anyone is better than GarPaxLen
At this point I seriously wonder what it take for Garpax to get fired.
I’d like to see RJ Barrett as the point guard for a D’Antoni coached Knicks team. Not sure it’s my first choice but…
Great, so Pop leaves and rather than give Becky Hammon her shot they’d give it to a college guy looking for his golden parachute? Nah man. Hammon has done enough to get a head coaching gig.
Popovich has already ran his leg of the race for women.
Saying the Rockets are off to a reasonably strong start at 15-7 despite their poor play and all of the injuries they have dealt with goes to show how good the team really is. Just wait til they get healthy and play well consistently.
The Rockets have to fire Dantoni when they lose in the playoffs this year. And having a new coach will doom them the next year. At some point Westbrook will realize he’s not such good friends with Hatden. Good thing Harden is a natural and Capella is young.
I don’t care who John Paxson is a fan of. The guy is a Grade-A moron. The entire front office and coaching staff needs to be gutted. And if Reinsdork had any balls in his genetic code, it would’ve been done years ago.