5 candidates to replace Nate McMillan as Pacers head coach
3. Mike D’Antoni
D’Antoni is playing out the final year of his contract. So if the Houston Rockets fall short of a title, or at least don’t reach the Western Conference Finals, a decision to move on could follow. At 69 years old (70 next May), D’Antoni could choose retirement.
But if the Rockets are the drivers for the decision to let D’Antoni go and he wants to keep coaching, he will be sought after elsewhere. Some teams may even wait to see how his situation plays out in Houston. After McMillan’s dismissal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski immediately reported D’Antoni would be a candidate for Indiana if he were available. He also wouldn’t come cheap, as Woj noted.
The Pacers need to evolve their offense, after coming in last in 3-point attempts per game this season (28.0 per game). The Rockets are of course on the other end of the spectrum, as the most 3-point heavy team in the league.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni — in the final year of his contract — will be an Indiana target should he become available, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
D'Antoni isn't an inexpensive hire and that'll be a question for Pacers and small market teams with league revenue stagnant in pandemic: How far will they go to pay a coach? Indiana also plans to search pool of those they'd consider 'program builders' over long-term, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 26, 2020
The Rockets are in a first-round dogfight against Oklahoma City (2-2 series tie entering Game 5). If the Rockets exit the playoffs early the decision on D’Antoni should come quickly. If he is somehow available, the Pacers seem ready to pounce