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Houston Rockets: 5 Best Candidates For Head Coaching Job

By Gerald Bourguet

April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
April 18, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Mark Jackson (left), broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy (center), and broadcaster Mike Breen (right) talk before game one of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Golden State Warriors and the New Orleans Pelicans at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Houston Rockets
May 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; TNT television personality Kenny Smith prior to game one of the Eastern Conference Finals of the NBA Playoffs between the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

Honorable Mentions

Kenny Smith — Look, I love Kenny Smith. But the report from ESPN’s Marc Stein that the Jet could be considered for the head coaching job should do little for Rockets fans. Enjoying him sitting around and trading barbs with Charles Barkley all day is one thing, but expecting him to command the respect of a locker room and be able to draw up plays is something else entirely.

Stephen Silas — According to The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets are working to set up an interview with Charlotte Hornets assistant Stephen Silas for their head coaching job. Silas, the son of longtime NBA coach Paul Silas, has been an assistant or scout in the league for five different organizations in six various stints dating back to 1999.

Chris Finch — As reported by Woj, the Rockets have already interviewed Chris Finch, a Houston assistant who is a former professional basketball player from the British Basketball League. He became the Rio Grande Valley Vipers’ head coach in 2009 and they won the D-League championship in his first year. Finch has been a Rockets assistant coach since 2011.

Shaka Smart — Though Stein says the Rockets are focused on finding proven NBA candidates to fill their head coaching vacancy, Houston is reportedly intrigued by two college coaches: Texas’ Shaka Smart and Kansas’ Bill Self. Smart’s .726 winning percentage is impressive, as was his Final Four run with VCU in 2011. Smart commands the respect of his players, though doing so at the college level is obviously a different challenge compared to NBA superstars and their million dollar egos.

Bill Self — With a 592-188 head coaching record, Self is one of college basketball’s undisputed all-time greats. He’s won a national championship, made it to two Final Fours and has captured 12 Big 12 regular season championships. Unfortunately, it’d take a lot of money to pry him from a cushy situation as the biggest fish in the pond with the Kansas Jayhawks, and that transition to the NBA level is not as easy as Brad Stevens has made it look.

Jeff Hornacek — Hornacek is the only name on this list with actual NBA head coaching experience, recently being ousted by the Phoenix Suns for problems that were largely not his fault. Hornacek finished second in Coach of the Year voting in 2013-14 for a 48-win Suns team, but he boasted with an underwhelming 101-112 record overall. For a team in need of a head coach who can unify a locker room, Hornacek’s track record isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement.

Next: No. 5

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