Hunt for coach takes turn to well-traveled assistants
Mike D’Antoni is considered the front-runner, but the Rockets on Thursday shifted their coaching search focus to meetings with longtime assistants.
Rockets owner Leslie Alexander met with Memphis assistant Jeff Bzdelik, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas and Raptors assistant Rex Kalamian, two individuals with knowledge of the talks said on condition of anonymity because of the nature of the talks.
Each has built strong reputations with multiple teams, particularly for their relationship with players. Bzdelik, as expected, interviewed for the coaching position with the Grizzlies before meeting with the Rockets.
Suitable for assistant
Though the interviews, according to individuals familiar with the talks, were for the Rockets’ coaching position, each could fit well should the Rockets consider them as part of a coaching staff. All three are considered a good fit should the Rockets seek a defensive-minded top assistant to pair with D’Antonio, the former Nuggets, Suns, Knicks and Lakers coach.
The potential coaching staff that could come in with any coach is a significant part of discussions with each candidate. D’Antoni’s selection of a defensive specialist was a part of the Rockets’ conversations with him.
The Rockets have found a top assistant coach in interviews for a coach, recommending Kelvin Sampson to Kevin McHale when McHale became coach in 2011.
The positions with the Rockets and Grizzlies are the only remaining coaching spots open, pending the completion of negotiations with the Knicks and Magic and their choices.
A day after the Knicks reached an agreement in principle with former Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, the Magic selected former Pacers coach Frank Vogel. Hornacek interviewed for the Rockets’ position and Vogel was also considered a candidate in Houston.
Of the assistants interviewed Thursday, Bzdelik, 63, is by far the most experienced and the only one with head coaching experience in the NBA. Bzdelik, the Nuggets head coach for parts of three seasons and an NBA head coach or assistant for 18 seasons, was an assistant with the Wizards, Nuggets and Heat. He then had stints with three college programs before returning to the NBA for the past three seasons in Memphis.
Kalamian is in his first season with the Raptors after spending six seasons in Oklahoma City, where he developed a strong relationship with James Harden. He was also an assistant under Raptors coach Dwane Casey in Minnesota.
Silas, the son of longtime forward and former coach Paul Silas, has been an assistant with New Orleans, Cleveland, Washington and the Warriors before returning to Charlotte in 2010. Paul Silas interviewed for the Rockets’ coaching position in 2003.
Second for Silas
The interview with Silas was his second, having met with Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in Chicago last week.
The Rockets have also interviewed former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, Rockets assistant Chris Finch and Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who later withdrew from consideration. Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy, initially a potential target, did not meet with the Rockets to discuss a reunion and is not under consideration.