The Houston Rockets’ coaching search is over.
After a weeks-long search that spanned numerous candidates and scores of rumors, the Rockets have settled on Mike D’Antoni to be their next head coach, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical:
The Houston Rockets are finalizing a four-year, $16 million-plus deal to hire Mike D’Antoni as head coach, league sources told The Vertical.
The Rockets will hold a team option on the fourth year of the deal, sources said.
D’Antoni, the associate head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, was the strong preference of Houston ownership, and brings with him his vaunted “Seven Seconds or Less” offense that he’ll build around All-Star guard James Harden.
D’Antoni has received a lot of flack over the years for his lack of defensive emphasis while helming teams, but this is still a good hire. The Rockets can always bring in a defensive-minded associate head coach, and the duo of D’Antoni and James Harden should make for some tantalizing offensive sets.
That said, in order for D’Antoni to get the fairest of shakes, he’ll need the Rockets to flesh out the rest of their roster. Save for Harden and maybe Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley, there aren’t a ton of keepers in Houston. Terrence Jones and Donatas Motiejunas haven’t really developed on schedule, in part due to injuries, the Rockets don’t yet know what they have in Clint Capela, and K.J. McDaniels barely ever sees the floor.
The Dwight Howard situation just got a whole lot more interesting as well. Most think he’s a lock to leave to Houston anyway, but he clashed with D’Antoni while with the Los Angeles Lakers. There is no chance he sticks around now.
Anyhow, it sounds like the Rockets got their guy, and in many ways, these two sides are a lot alike already. The Rockets are trying to prove they can build an contender within their current constructs, while D’Antoni is trying to prove he still belongs on an NBA sideline.
