Stone to lead coach search
New GM has been part of process; Van Gundy and Silas get second round of interviews
The Rockets on Thursday made a hire weeks in the making.
They are, however, still looking for their next head coach.
While Rafael Stone was elevated to general manager to succeed Daryl Morey, the Rockets coaching search continued with a second day of meetings with former coach Jeff Van Gundy and the news that Ty Lue had landed the position to remain with the Clippers.
Mavericks assistant head coach Stephen Silas is scheduled to meet again with the Rockets on Friday, according to a person with knowledge of the process.
The Rockets have not narrowed their list, despite the follow-up interviews, to a group of finalists, and Stone could opt to interview additional candidates, an individual familiar with the team’s thinking said.
Rockets director of player personnel John Lucas is also being strongly considered, according to another person with knowledge of the process so far.
Though Morey did not make his decision to step down public until Thursday and has been involved in the interviews with candidates to succeed Mike D’Antoni as Rockets coach, each of the coaches had been informed throughout the process that Morey expected to leave the team at some point this offseason.
“We’ve been up front with all the coaching candidates we’ve talked to that there was a change coming,” Morey said. “I have been trying to be just an adviser at this point with Rafael making the final decision and Tilman (Fertitta, the Rockets owner) making the final decision.”
Stone has been involved in each of the interviews and will continue to lead the process. Fertitta had said after the Rockets season ended that Morey would be back and would make a recommendation on the new coach. He said on Thursday that Stone will have the same responsibilities he planned for Morey.
“Rafael and Daryl have been in every meeting,” Ferttita said. “It will be Rafael’s decision. I’ll bless it. Tad Brown will have a huge decision. It’s the way it’s always been here. There’s never been an anointed one that got to make every decision. It’s always been a collaborative effort with the whole basketball ops. They come in here with a busload. I don’t even know some of their names.
“Daryl is here helping us interview coaches, giving good input.
He has a place for the Rockets in his heart, and I appreciate his help.”
Van Gundy, who was the Rockets’ coach for four seasons from 2003-07, succeeded Rockets icon Rudy Tomjanovich. He was replaced by Rick Adelman after the Rockets’ loss to the Utah Jazz in seven games in the 2007 playoffs, causing him to be uncertain about whether he wanted to return until the team had already moved on in the first official move of Morey’s tenure as general manager. But Van Gundy and Morey had maintained a good relationship in the years since.
Lucas, who has been a head coach with the Spurs, 76ers and Cavaliers, returned to the Rockets when D’Antoni became coach, a move driven by Stone at the time. He was given unusual autonomy in player development and has a close relationship with Rockets players, including stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Silas was a finalist for the position when D’Antoni was selected in 2016. He was a top assistant with the Charlotte Hornets under former Rockets assistant Steve Clifford then and has been the lead assistant for Rick Carlisle for the past two seasons, helping the Mavericks produce the top-rated offense in NBA history last season.
The Rockets have also interviewed Nuggets assistant Wes Unseld Jr., Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool, former Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and Lue, who on Thursday reached agreement to stay with the Clippers, succeeding Doc Rivers as head coach.