Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni has ended discussions with team management about a potential contract extension, league sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. According to Wojnarowski, D’Antoni is now planning to finish his current deal with Houston, which has one year left and will expire in 2020.
This development is the latest in a somewhat surprising series of events in Houston since the team was eliminated by the Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals earlier this month. While both the Rockets and D’Antoni expressed interest in getting an extension done, the team has broken up D’Antoni’s staff, parting ways with Jeff Bdzelik, Roy Rogers, Mitch Vanya, and Irv Roland in a series of moves.
Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle wrote in a mailbag this week that there’s no major schism between the two sides. According to Feigen, the Rockets recognize the excellent job D’Antoni has done in Houston, and the veteran head coach had no intention of stepping down with or without an extension.
D’Antoni – who has said he believes he can coach three more years but would’ve been fine with tacking on one season to his current contract – seems OK with heading into the final year of his deal, Feigen tweeted today.
Still, if the Rockets and D’Antoni move forward without a new deal in place, it’s not the most ideal scenario. His ability to put together a quality staff could be compromised if potential assistants know there are no guarantees beyond a single season, Chris Mannix of SI.com observes (via Twitter).
According to Wojnarowski, there were some conversations constructed around a Rockets proposal of a performance-based extension, but those discussions never gained traction with D’Antoni’s camp.
Since taking the reins in Houston in 2016, D’Antoni has compiled a 173-73 (.703) regular season record, as well as a 23-16 (.590) mark in the postseason.
Ummmm….he’s gone.
Agreed. He won’t be coaching the team next year.
He’s not a great coach. Ask Phoenix. Fun to watch, but he gets out coached by everyone.
Stop. Guy has lost multiple times to dynastic teams. There’s no shame in losing to the Warriors *or* the Spurs.
In fact, he’d be an NBA champion were it not for Robert Horry hip checking Nash, and he’d be one of the Knicks top coaches if it weren’t for Melo being a ball stopper.
The idea that d’Antoni is bad is just ridiculous. At the very least, he’s an above average NBA coach.
He’s not bad, he’s horrible. He proved that in NY and LA. His system (7 second offense) and philosophy doesn’t conform to the players like a real coach should. Nor does he even work/focus on defense.
He’s a great OFFENSIVE coach. The jury is still out otherwise. His schemes tend to falter in the playoffs where the opposing team might have time to nullify the efficiency of his run and gun offense. If Harden’s ISO dribble, dribble, dribble shoot for a 3 or to draw a foul is to blame then so is D’Antoni as he is the enabler.
I really think Boogie joining Harden and Paul would be a tremendous upgrade. They need a playmaker in the post who can also rebound and stretch the floor. I also think Harden should take a page off of Curry and move without the ball and mix things up with catch and shoots. Motion creates opportunity. LBJ used to be called ball dominant but he’s not just ball dominant to shoot but to also create open shots for others. I also think they need to add a young back up guard who can initiate the offense too. Not sure who tho.
Adding Cousins isn’t the answer, it just adds to the problem. They don’t need more offense. Capela is the reason they defensively stay in games. They missed Ariza more than they thought with his perimeter defense.
The Rockets are predictable on offense. Cousins gives them another playmaker and the only one that can be effective in as a post player, a pick and role guy and stretch the floor too. In addition he’s an excellent passer. Opponents know that Capela isn’t touching the ball unless he’s 5-8 ft from the paint. Demarcus and give the Rockets a half-court set option other than predictable ISO dribble, dribble, dribble.
Defensively, Cousins is top 15 in career defensive ratings.
Defensive win share:
2016-17 DC (3.8) vs CC (2.1)
2017-18 DC (3.2) vs CC (4.1)
Defensive +/-
2016-17 DC (2.6) vs CC (0.9)
2017-18 DC (3.6) vs CC (2.9)
2018-19 DC (3.4) vs CC (1.6)
Rebounds per game
2016-17 DC (11) vs CC (8)
2017-18 DC (13) vs CC (11)
2018-19 DC (8) vs CC (13)
Blocks per game
2016-17 DC (1.4) vs CC (1.2)
2017-18 DC (1.6) vs CC (1.9)
2018-19 DC (1.3) vs CC (1.5)
DeMarcus is about equal as Capela even without factoring in his health the this season after not being 100%. So defensively, there’s not much off a fall off. Offensively, DM in 2016/17-2017/18 gave you 25+ ppg, 5 assists pg and shot 46/36/75. That’s outstanding scoring, passing and 3pt shooting for a big plus he can go rim to rim and be a threat anywhere from the floor. In half court sets teams knew all they had to do was deny lobs into the paint to nullify Capela and make him a garbage cleanup put back guy. It’s no comparison.
Plus, he’s likely the most affordable player they can get that can have a real impact on how the team plays, so long as Harden is willing to play off the ball more. Let Paul decide the best match ups and feed the beast (DC) when it makes sense.
He’s never gonna be a champion dude, get over your pringles fascination.
Rockets do not have the personnel to run a different system. They’re trying too hard and will mess up.
This is a team with the exact type of players D’antoni wants and they still cant get to a finals
They lost the 2nd round by 11 total points over six games. They came THIS close.
Were we watching the same series?
Playing a competitive 2nd round series is making the finals? They have had this group together too long to get satisfied by a close series that came up short. Bottom line they cant win games in Oakland come playoff time. Only 1 win there in the 4 time they have met
Yes. And they lost.
That’s like ALMOST bedding your sister. Nothing to celebrate. Winning is winning. Everything else is losing and they’ve done so for several consecutive years.
Very strange analogy.
The 11 total points thing is for predictive value, not bragging or excusing or whatever that was. For 2020 planning; for fine tuning. Except the Rockets seem to be ignoring it for an overhaul.
Meh. He can be replaced.
No one else is gonna do better with this team
Lue will be his replacement.
rockets had a head coach? every offensive possession they run the same predictable play – who knew?
Almost as predictable as Denver’s.
Nobody has beat the Warriors that last 5 years he has done the best against them the last two years. If he pulls it off this year he earns his money. If not he can go to a new up and coming team and try again.
Next Timberwolves coach.
Mark Jackson has my vote for head coach.