With the 2019-20 Houston Rockets season coming to a disappointing end in the second round of the NBA playoffs, speculation will naturally pick up in the days ahead about potential offseason changes.
With an All-Star backcourt of recent league MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook — and both now 31 years old — there’s a clear sense of urgency to make a title push sooner rather than later.
Yet, with no salary cap room for the foreseeable future and most rotation players under contract for at least next season, it’s not easy to dramatically change the Houston roster. As a result, much of the focus about plausible moves has turned to the coaching staff and front office.
It does not appear, however, that renowned Rockets GM Daryl Morey is in any danger. Per Tim MacMahon of ESPN:
There has been widespread speculation throughout the league that Feritta would want to also move on from Morey this offseason, gossip that began in the wake of Morey’s tweet that damaged the Rockets’ relationship with China, costing the franchise millions of dollars in sponsorship deals. High-ranking Rockets sources dismiss those rumors, saying that Fertitta fully intends to keep Morey.
With or without Mike D'Antoni, an unrestricted free agent who will explore his options, the Rockets are likely to run it back with small ball next season. https://t.co/jNAR0QSiuD
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) September 13, 2020
Since Morey took the full-time GM position prior to the 2007-08 season, the Rockets have not had a single losing season, and they now have NBA’s longest streak at eight consecutive playoff appearances. His peers named him as the NBA’s Executive of the Year in 2018.
Head coach Mike D’Antoni, on the other hand, may not be as secure in his status. Unlike Morey, D’Antoni does not have a contract beyond this season, which means there’s no dead money for owner Tilman Fertitta to have to eat if he chooses to go in a different direction. Fertitta and the Rockets tried to extend D’Antoni last offseason through the 2020-21 season, but the sides couldn’t reach a financial agreement.
Per MacMahon, many around the league — including D’Antoni — have since believed that the Rockets needed to make a deep playoff run for him to return as coach. That clearly did not happen.
MacMahon mentioned previous Rockets coach (and current television analyst) Jeff Van Gundy and former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson as potential coaching candidates in Houston, should the job open.
[lawrence-related id=38171]
There have been rumbles in coaching circles for weeks that the Rockets will strongly consider Jeff Van Gundy to replace Mike D’Antoni if they make a coaching change
GM Daryl Morey, remember, had interest in rehiring Van Gundy when Houston hired D’Antoni instead in May 2016 https://t.co/CJXIul5WgY
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 13, 2020