Veteran NBA head coach Jeff Van Gundy likely remains the top option for the Rockets coaching vacancy, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. MacMahon is the ESPN reporter who most closely covers Houston.
“I still think Jeff Van Gundy is probably the favorite, but they’re definitely doing their due diligence,” MacMahon said of the Rockets. He spoke on Brian Windhorst’s The Hoop Collective podcast.
Van Gundy has historically had a good relationship with Rockets GM Daryl Morey, who is leading the search. On Morey’s role, MacMahon said:
Really, I think the most important thing for the coaching candidates is going to be aligning with Daryl Morey and his vision in terms of basketball philosophy, as well as who is going to be on that staff. Because we all know, Daryl Morey is very hands on, in terms of putting together a coach’s staff.
Another high-profile candidate is recent Los Angeles Clippers assistant Ty Lue, but MacMahon expressed skepticism that Houston could meet his lofty price tag. Negotiations between Lue and the Lakers reportedly broke down in May 2019 when they wouldn’t meet his asking price.
“Another thing is, Ty Lue is interviewing there,” MacMahon said. “I’ll be honest with you, I don’t think [owner] Tilman Fertitta is paying Ty Lue’s market value. I don’t think he’s paying top dollar for a coach.”
"I still think Jeff Van Gundy is probably the favorite but they're definitely doing their due diligence," said Tim MacMahon.
"Another thing is, Ty Lue is interviewing there… I'll be honest with you, I don't think Tilman Fertitta is paying Ty Lue's market value."
— Disney Gary Clark (@Itamar1710) October 9, 2020
Only 43 years old, Lue is also reportedly a candidate for head coaching vacancies with the Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans.
As for Van Gundy, the 58-year-old hasn’t coached in the league since his stint leading the Rockets from 2003-04 through 2006-07. He currently calls NBA games as an analyst for ESPN and ABC.
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Known best for his emphasis on defense and toughness, Van Gundy has a career coaching record of 430-318 (.575) over parts of 11 seasons as head coach in New York and Houston. Van Gundy is 44-44 (.500) in the playoffs, including a trip to the 1999 NBA Finals with the Knicks.
The Rockets can’t hold an in-person interview with Van Gundy until the NBA Finals end, since he’s still at the “bubble” in Florida as an announcer. That might explain how long Houston’s process has dragged on, since it has now been almost a month since former head coach Mike D’Antoni announced on Sept. 13 that he would not be returning.
Ty Lue is scheduled to interview with the Rockets early next week for Houston's coaching vacancy, league sources say
Also expected in Houston in the near future: Interviews for current Rockets staffer John Lucas and ESPN's Jeff Van Gundy (who calls Game 5 of the Finals tonight)
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 9, 2020
Besides Van Gundy and Lue, other current Houston candidates are believed to include fellow Clippers assistant Sam Cassell; New Orleans assistant Chris Finch; Minnesota assistant David Vanterpool; Dallas assistant Stephen Silas; Denver assistant Wes Unseld Jr.; former Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson; and current Rockets assistant John Lucas. There is no clear timetable for a hire to be made.
As MacMahon pointed out, Morey has historically had a large role in determining the assistants beneath the head coach. Thus, even if Van Gundy were hired as head coach, it’s plausible that they could still pursue some of the names on that list in an assistant capacity, instead.
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