Houston Rockets hiring Stephen Silas as new head coach
After much speculation, the Houston Rockets have selected their new head coach.
Just over a month after Mike D’Antoni announced that he would not be returning as head coach of the Houston Rockets, the team has selected his replacement, Dallas Mavericks assistant Stephen Silas. This news comes just hours after Houston’s former general manager Daryl Morey agreed to oversee the basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Many expected a big name after D’Antoni decided he would not be back with the team. Jeff Van Gundy was the name being tossed around before today, but the Rockets are moving forward with Stephen Silas, who has been an NBA assistant for the past 19 years.
Dallas Mavericks assistant Stephen Silas is finalizing a deal to become the next head coach of the Houston Rockets, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 28, 2020
The organization had a ton of rethinking to do after its second-round playoff exit at hands of the eventual champion Los Angeles Lakers. They were persuaded to move ahead with Silas after he’s shown success in working with big-name players around the league and worked under longtime NBA coach Rick Carlisle.
Rockets were sold on Silas' offensive ingenuity, his pedigree w/ Rick Carlisle, Steve Clifford and his father, Paul Silas. Silas has coached some remarkable guards in his NBA career, including Luka Doncic, Kemba Walker, Steph Curry. Now he gets to run offense for Harden-Westbrook https://t.co/52Qfuknilb
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 28, 2020
It remains to be seen how the Rockets plan to move forward with their current roster and if Silas sees the team being able to move forward with a James Harden and Russell Westbrook core. Free agency and the NBA draft ought to clear up a lot of that confusion in the coming months, with a new season less than three months away.
Next. Rockets lose Morey to 76ers. dark