Veteran coach John Lucas is an emerging candidate in the Rockets‘ search for a new head coach, reports Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link).
As Stein notes (via Twitter), Lucas has spent the last four seasons working as a player development coach on Mike D’Antoni‘s staff in Houston, and has developed strong relationships with both James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
A former first overall pick as an NBA player, Lucas transitioned to coaching in the early 1990s and has spent time as a head coach for the Spurs, Sixers, and Cavaliers. The 66-year-old was also an assistant for the Nuggets and Clippers before eventually joining the Rockets in 2016.
According to reports in August, Lucas was among the coaches who made a strong impression on players with his comments during the meeting in the Orlando bubble as they weighed whether or not to resume the season following their boycott.
Houston is taking its time as it seeks a replacement for D’Antoni, having reportedly met with Tyronn Lue on Sunday. Former NBA head coaches Jeff Van Gundy and Kenny Atkinson have also been linked to the job, as have current assistants like Sam Cassell, David Vanterpool, and Chris Finch.
If John Lucas is emerging after their meeting with tyronn lue it’s probably because they weren’t impressed with lue.
Or they are trying to gain leverage in contract talks. “We like you, but we also like this other guy who hasn’t been a head coach in forever and will be dirt cheap. Come on Ty, come down to 5/25”
I don’t think they are willing to give Lue a 5-year/$25M deal. That might be where he starts at in negotiations, and the team will counter with a much smaller deal.
I imagine lue is seeking 7/per
I need more insight like this
76ers Nets Knicks Bulls are more aggressive to cut big checks for new coaches
Big city cuts big checks
$$$
Houston going cheap this time.
Wow, this is a reach.
Given the probable decline of the Rockets, they could use a “strong” and “inspiring” voice for do-something marching orders to an angry mob.
Enough of these winning realists like Dantoni and Lue!
John Lucas is good but not for a replacement for D’Antoni. But if Rockets looking for someone just to get by if they go into rebuild. But they really do not look serious on finding someone that quick even.
This is out of left field. The rest of the league is going with recently retired former stars or relatively successful recent former coaches. Houston is deciding to go with a man that was the #1 pick in the draft the year my 44 year old butt was born and has a career winning percentage of .401 as an NBA head coach. And his last head coaching job was not even in basketball, but as the coach of the Houston Wranglers of World Team Tennis. (Really cool fact, but they finished in last place)
It’s a tired cliche, but I have to say it.
Houston, we have a problem.