Tag: Will Weaver

Scotto: Will Weaver is potential candidate to join Nets coaching staff

Will Weaver is a potential candidate to be added to Jacque Vaughn’s coaching staff, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.

The Brooklyn Nets are potentially interested in adding Will Weaver to head coach Jacque Vaughn’s coaching staff, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Weaver is currently the head coach of Paris Basketball, a basketball team that is part of the LNB Pro A, a French basketball league.

According to Scotto, league sources communicated to HoopsHype that people around the league should keep an eye out for Weaver potentially joining Brooklyn’s coaching staff because of his previous ties to the Nets organization. From 2016 to 2018, Weaver served as the special assistant to then-head coach Kenny Atkinson.

During the 2018-19 season, Weaver was named the head coach of the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate. He led the team to tie for the best record in the G League and due to his efforts, he was named G League Coach of the Year for that season after leading the team to its first playoff berth in franchise history.

Time may be of the essence as Scotto also notes that Weaver has drawn interest from other teams, including the Toronto Raptors. Before coaching Paris Basketball, Weaver was an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets from 2020 to 2022.

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Rockets reportedly looking for strong defensive coach as assistant

“I think they’re going to definitely try and add a guy who has some defensive coaching chops,” Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen says of the Rockets’ assistant search.

With three assistant coaches in Jeff Hornacek, Will Weaver, and DeSagana Diop not returning to the Houston Rockets staff for the 2022-23 season, head coach Stephen Silas likely has three vacancies to fill.

While some names have been rumored, including G League affiliate coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah and longtime NBA assistant Melvin Hunt, a formal hire has yet to be made. But Silas has made it clear that defense is a priority this offseason after Houston’s league-worst finish in 2021-22, and it appears that will factor into the coaching search, as well.

Longtime Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen elaborated in a conversation with Salman Ali on the Red Nation Hoops podcast:

Stephen (Silas) is extremely well liked and respected around the league. He’s got a ton of connections. People would like to work for him. …

I think they’re going to definitely try and add a guy who has some defensive coaching chops. Not necessarily running the defense, but a creative mind with a lot to offer as a guy that will help work with the defense.

I don’t think it’s quite the Jeff Bzdelik defensive coordinator (role) — I know they didn’t call him that, but “you run the show on defense” — it’s not that.

He’s looking for a defensive… I don’t want to say specialist, but a really strong defensive coach. That’s where they’re going with the main one.

Feigen, who said he anticipates Abdelfattah being one of the three hires, did offer one caveat when it comes to Silas’ ongoing search.

“There is a lot of uncertainty,” Feigen said of Houston’s situation. “When you’re joining a team that’s had the worst record in the league, twice in a row, and the coach has two years left on his contract — only one fully guaranteed — coaches have to consider that. But, he’s got connections like crazy, and he’s really well liked and highly thought of. That’s the one thing I’ve heard from people outside the organization.”

The new assistant coaching hires will join John Lucas (lead assistant) and Rick Higgins, who are still in place from Silas’ 2021-22 staff.

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DeSagana Diop reportedly set to leave Rockets’ coaching staff

According to veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein, DeSagana Diop will become Stephen Silas’ third assistant coach to not return in 2022-23, joining Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver.

According to veteran NBA scribe Marc Stein, DeSagana Diop will soon become Houston’s third assistant coach to leave the bench this offseason, joining Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver. A former NBA center, Diop was hired by the Rockets prior to the 2020-21 season.

Per Stein, the New York Knicks are expected to name Diop as the new head coach of their NBA G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks.

With Diop, Hornacek, and Weaver no longer part of the staff, it appears Stephen Silas will be filling three roles before the 2022-23 season. Lead assistant John Lucas, along with Rick Higgins, are still in place.

It remains unconfirmed whether Hornacek and Weaver left of their own choosing, or if Silas and the Rockets chose to go a different direction.

Immediately after the 2021-22 season ended, Silas said he was hopeful of having all members of his assistant coaching staff return. However, he said he would not attempt to hold any back from a promotion, if they were offered one. General manager Rafael Stone has made it clear assistant coaching decisions are Silas’ job, rather than his.

Mahmoud Abdelfattah, head coach of Houston’s G League affiliate (the Rio Grande Valley Vipers), is reportedly a strong early candidate for one of those vacant positions. Another is Melvin Hunt, a longtime NBA assistant who most recently worked for Atlanta from 2018 until 2021.

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Jeff Hornacek, Will Weaver not returning to Rockets coaching staff

With assistant coaches Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver not returning to Houston, G League head coach Mahmoud Abdelfattah could emerge as a candidate for the Rockets.

Assistant coaches Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver will not return to the Rockets for the 2022-23 NBA season, as first reported by Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston. Both Hornacek and Weaver had coached underneath head coach Stephen Silas for each of the past two seasons.

Hornacek, a former NBA head coach, was particularly involved on offense, while Weaver was active on both sides and served as Houston’s head coach in summer league games. Barbara Turner, a player development assistant last season, is also leaving Silas’ staff.

Assistant coaches who remain in place with the Rockets include lead assistant John Lucas, as well as DeSagana Diop and Rick Higgins.

Following the 2021-22 season, Silas said he was hopeful of having all members of his assistant coaching staff return. However, he said he would not attempt to hold any back from a promotion, if they were offered one. General manager Rafael Stone has made it clear that assistant coaching decisions are Silas’ job, rather than his.

There was no immediate word on potential replacements, though one potential candidate appears to be Mahmoud Abdelfattah, head coach of the G League affiliate Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Vipers. Under Abdelfattah’s leadership, RGV recently won its fourth title in team history.

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Jeff Hornacek, Will Weaver not returning as Rockets assistants

Mark Berman: NBA source: Assistant coaches Jeff Hornacek and Will Weaver will not return to the Rockets staff for 2022-23 season Source: Twitter @MarkBermanFox26 More on this storyline Mike Brown’s cellphone was filled with congratulatory text …

More on this storyline

 

Mike Brown’s cellphone was filled with congratulatory text messages from family, friends and NBA colleagues when he was recently named the new head coach of the Sacramento Kings. But of all the well-wishes, the ones that left a lasting impression on Brown came from his fellow Black NBA coaches, such as Doc Rivers and Tyronn Lue. Rivers told Andscape that it was important that Brown knew “there were a lot of coaches who were not only happy for him, but believed it was due.” -via Andscape / May 17, 2022
“It was fantastic, man. Most of the coaches out there reached out to me,” Brown, currently the Golden State Warriors’ associate head coach, told Andscape. “Probably 99% of the African American coaches reached out to me, too. And guys that I do not necessarily talk to every day. But to get some of the congratulatory texts from those guys felt really good. -via Andscape / May 17, 2022
Brown says he is happy with the progress for Black coaches in the NBA. “It’s fantastic, and it shows that our league is ahead of the curve,” Brown said. “And we still have a ways to go. But the NBA, in my opinion, is leading the charge and, a lot of it is due to everybody at the top. And then also with the players. I mean, we have the right guys stepping up and speaking out, and I think that has had a lot of impact, not only in the hiring process when it comes to coaches, but in the hiring process, all throughout the organizations.” -via Andscape / May 17, 2022

 

Jae’Sean Tate cites Will Weaver as extra motivation to join Rockets

Will Weaver coached Jae’Sean Tate on the Sydney Kings, and Weaver’s arrival in Houston gave Tate even more incentive to join the Rockets.

With a contract worth less than $2 million per year through the 2022-23 season, Rockets forward Jae’Sean Tate is already one of the NBA’s best bargains. The 25-year-old recently became the first Houston player since Luis Scola in 2007-08 to earn All-Rookie first team honors.

While general manager Rafael Stone deserves much of the credit for scouting Tate internationally and identifying him as a clear NBA talent, it appears that assistant coach Will Weaver played a key role, as well.

In 2019-20, Weaver was head coach of the Sydney Kings, who play in Australia’s National Basketball League. That also happened to be the team that Tate played on in his second year out of college.

Months later, when Weaver accepted a job in Houston as an assistant to Stephen Silas, Tate followed within weeks — and it wasn’t entirely a coincidence. Here’s what Tate said on his official documentary, which premiered this week on the Rockets’ YouTube channel:

At the time, Houston just showed the most interest. They made it seem like they really wanted me. It was going to be a real opportunity. It kind of made sense, because the style of play fit me.

It was icing on the cake when Coach Will [Weaver] became part of the staff, and it’s like, ‘Alright, I can be somewhere with a familiar face.’

According to Tate, his positive working relationship with Weaver carried over into the 2020-21 season. He explains:

Post All-Star break, I met with Coach Will, and we kind of dissected and went through how the first half of the season went. Things that we could improve on, and we made some goals.

I think one of the best things that happened to me was during that break… just looking back and seeing the growth that I had. Not only from my year in Sydney to my first half-season in the NBA, but also the continued growth from game one.

Tate started 58 of his 70 games played last season, with both figures leading Houston’s roster. The 6-foot-5 lefty averaged 11.3 points (50.6% FG), 5.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 29.2 minutes per game, and he was one of the team’s best and most versatile defenders, as well.

“I’ve been happy here,” Tate said of Houston. “I tell people all the time… I definitely could see me living here, or having a home here.”

Tate’s complete documentary can be viewed below.

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Rockets assistant Will Weaver hopes to become head coach in future

Will Weaver drew attention for his strong work in summer league with the Rockets, and he’s hopeful of eventually becoming an NBA head coach.

Despite facing significant adversity in the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League, the Houston Rockets still finished with a winning record (3-2). Summer league head coach Will Weaver, who is an assistant to Stephen Silas in the regular season, likely deserves much of the credit.

Prized rookie Jalen Green — the No. 2 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft — was unavailable for more than half of Houston’s total minutes due to a hamstring strain. Armoni Brooks, who was the top NBA scorer among players with previous league experience, missed three out of the five games due to health and safety protocols. Returning players KJ Martin and Khyri Thomas each had their summer stints end early, as did rookie big man Alperen Sengun, while rookie forward Usman Garuba was a late arrival due to contract buyout negotiations.

Nonetheless, the Rockets still had their share of highlights and wins, headlined by a dominant performance versus Detroit and recent No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham. Rookies such as Green and Sengun understandably drew the most attention from fans, but Houston’s game plans were sharp and organized, which helped the Rockets overcome not having as many experienced NBA players as most other teams.

That’s where Weaver comes into play. Now 37 years old, the second-year Rockets assistant and former head coach of the Sydney Kings (Australia) stressed playing with a fast pace on offense, switching at all positions but center on defense, and generally keeping it simple.

In an exclusive chat with Kelly Iko of The Athletic, Weaver said:

We’ve certainly tried to layer it to where we’re not expanding the menu. We’re trying to stay within a tight set of patterns on both sides of the ball, and hope that our guys can really dive headfirst into those and come out of the experience feeling like they grew.

For now, Weaver is quite happy with his current role alongside Silas in Houston. But if the Rockets win more games and earn attention for their success and approach, he’s certainly young enough to where his name could one day become a hot commodity in head coaching searches.

“I’ve been lucky to be a head coach in several different contexts, in the G League, overseas, and national team events,” Weaver told Iko. “You don’t ever take the opportunity to be in a position of leadership lightly, and I certainly don’t. I’m appreciative of the opportunity Rafael [Stone] and the team have given me, and certainly learned a lot just within this week about how I can do a better job as an assistant coach and hopefully as a [NBA] head coach in the future.”

The complete interview between Iko and Weaver can be read here.

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Christopher, Sengun, Lamb pace Rockets in summer loss to Magic

Josh Christopher, Anthony Lamb, and Alperen Sengun led the way in Sunday’s loss to Orlando. Here’s what the summer Rockets said postgame.

With rookie sensation and No. 2 overall draft pick Jalen Green sidelined again (as expected) by a minor hamstring injury, the Houston Rockets didn’t have nearly enough offense in Sunday’s 89-76 loss (box score) to Orlando at the 2021 Las Vegas Summer League. The Rockets are now 2-0 in games that Green has finished, and 0-2 when he does not.

The Rockets were led Sunday by rookie guard Josh Christopher, who scored a game-high 22 points in 29 minutes. However, he shot just 7-of-19 (36.8%) from the field, and he committed seven turnovers. Meanwhile, big man Alperen Sengun had 13 points (50.0% FG), 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks in 24 minutes. Sengun and Christopher were picked at No. 16 and No. 24, respectively, in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft.

Second-year forward Anthony Lamb scored 17 points, including five makes from 3-point range in the first half. For much of the game, that kept Houston at least within striking distance of the Magic, who were led by 15 points from second-year guard Cole Anthony. Both Orlando and Houston are now 2-2, with one final summer game to be played for both teams on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. (Tuesday’s opponent and game time for the Rockets is still to be determined.)

Overall, it was a forgettable game for the Rockets, who shot 33.3% from the field, 22.0% on 3-pointers (9-of-41), and 23 total turnovers. Houston had a new starting backcourt in Tremont Waters and Armoni Brooks, who each made their summer league debuts on Sunday, but they combined to shoot just 3-of-17 from the field (17.6%).

See below for Sunday’s postgame reaction by Christopher, Lamb, and summer league head coach Will Weaver.

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Interviews: Rockets react to first summer loss, Jalen Green injury, Usman Garuba debut

Houston lost Thursday’s summer game to Toronto, and the key postgame storylines involved Jalen Green’s injury and Usman Garuba’s debut.

The Houston Rockets fell to 2-1 in Las Vegas Summer League play with Thursday’s 92-76 loss (box score) to Toronto. But the biggest postgame storyline involved the health of prized rookie Jalen Green.

Green scored 13 points (3-of-5 on 3-pointers) in just 12 minutes, but he left late in the first half with right hamstring soreness. Early indications were that it was precautionary rather than a major injury, though it seems doubtful that the 19-year-old would return quickly for exhibitions.

In Green’s absence, the Rockets didn’t have nearly enough shot creating ability and shot just 33.3% from the field (25.7% on 3-pointers). Rookie guard Josh Christopher scored a team-high 14 points, but he made only 4-of-18 shots (22.2%) from the field and 1-of-9 from 3-point range (11.1%). Rookie big man Alperen Sengun had 9 points and 11 rebounds, but he shot just 3-of-10 (30%) and committed five turnovers.

Fellow first-round rookie Usman Garuba made his summer debut just hours after catching a long plane flight from Spain to the United States. He didn’t score, but grabbed 6 rebounds in 12 minutes.

The Raptors (2-1) were led by Ish Wainright, who had 20 points (58.3% FG), 7 rebounds, and 4 steals in 29 minutes. Big man Precious Achiuwa added 19 points (72.7% FG), 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 26 minutes.

Toronto wing Scottie Barnes, who was taken at No. 4 overall in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft (two spots after Green), had 5 blocks in 23 minutes — but the Rockets held him to 2-of-7 shooting (28.6%).

See below for postgame comments from Houston’s locker room on Thursday night. The Rockets return to summer play on Sunday versus No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs and Orlando, with tipoff set for 7:00 p.m. Central.

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