Former Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue is scheduled to interview for the vacant Houston Rockets job next week, according to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Lue, who worked under Doc Rivers last season as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, is also a candidate there to replace Rivers. Among other options, he’s still reportedly in the mix for the Philadelphia 76ers job, along with Rivers and former Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni.
The New Orleans Pelicans are scheduled to meet with Lue on Friday, just a few days prior to his scheduled interview with Houston.
Now 43 years old, Lue led the Cavaliers to their only NBA title in 2016. Over parts of four seasons as head coach, Lue compiled a 128-83 record (.607) in the regular season and 41-20 (.671) in the playoffs. Among many attributes, he was well regarded for his ability to build relationships with All-Star players like LeBron James, Kevin Love, and Kyrie Irving.
Ty Lue meets with the #Sixers about vacant coaching job https://t.co/ArLTjUBvwL via @phillyinquirer
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 30, 2020
Last week, Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported that Lue was a “serious candidate” for the Rockets. As such, their interest progressing to the interview phase shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
Besides Lue, other current candidates for the Rockets are believed to include Rivers; fellow Clippers assistant Sam Cassell; former Brooklyn head coach Kenny Atkinson; Dallas assistant Stephen Silas; Denver assistant Wes Unseld Jr.; and former Houston head coach Jeff Van Gundy.
There is no clear timetable for a hire to be made.
[lawrence-related id=38787,38776,38768]
Clippers assistant Ty Lue will obviously be a candidate to replace Doc Rivers in LA, remains in the hunt for the Philadelphia job — although Mike D'Antoni is widely considered the favorite — and Lue has also received support for the Houston job, league sources say
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 29, 2020