The Houston Rockets have the final head coaching vacancy in the league, but they seem to be filling that up this weekend. The team is reportedly finalizing a deal to make Mike D'Antoni their next head coach. Sources are saying the deal is for three years, giving the team an option for the fourth season.
The 65-year-old D'Antoni has coached the likes of the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks, and Lakers. He is currently an assistant coach for the Sixers and will be replacing Kevin McHale, who was fired 11 games into the season. J.B. Bickerstaff was named interim coach.
D'Antoni is known as an up-tempo offensive coach, but seems to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Because of this, the team is hoping to hire Grizzlies' assistant Jeff Bzdelik and Wizards' assistant Roy Rogers in "defensive coordinator" positions.
The Rockets had interviewed 12 potential candidates, including Bickerstaff, who pulled out late in the running. Spurs' assistant James Borrego had two interviews, making him look like the favorite late.
D'Antonio also interviewed twice, including a face-to-face meeting with team owner Leslie Alexander. After that, he had seemingly jumped ahead in the race, but the Rockets' claimed that more interviews were coming. Now that all the searching around the league is over with, the team will look to find their way back to the top half of the Western Conference standings under another veteran coach.
The 65-year-old D'Antoni has coached the likes of the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks, and Lakers. He is currently an assistant coach for the Sixers and will be replacing Kevin McHale, who was fired 11 games into the season. J.B. Bickerstaff was named interim coach.
D'Antoni is known as an up-tempo offensive coach, but seems to struggle on the defensive side of the ball. Because of this, the team is hoping to hire Grizzlies' assistant Jeff Bzdelik and Wizards' assistant Roy Rogers in "defensive coordinator" positions.
The Rockets had interviewed 12 potential candidates, including Bickerstaff, who pulled out late in the running. Spurs' assistant James Borrego had two interviews, making him look like the favorite late.
D'Antonio also interviewed twice, including a face-to-face meeting with team owner Leslie Alexander. After that, he had seemingly jumped ahead in the race, but the Rockets' claimed that more interviews were coming. Now that all the searching around the league is over with, the team will look to find their way back to the top half of the Western Conference standings under another veteran coach.
