NBA Rumors: Houston Rockets expected to part ways with Stephen Silas after 2023 season
Stephen Silas has been coaching the Houston Rockets for three years, but it appears his time could be coming to an end. Reports have indicated that Houston could make some changes at the end of this season.
In the three years that Silas has been head coach, the Rockets have been in the early stages of a rebuild. The team's roster is littered with promising young talent, but hasn't yet began to yield results.
In a recent news dump for Yahoo Sports, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that Houston will likely part ways with Silas following this season:
"Silas currently holds the position as Rockets head coach, but Houston is widely expected by league officials to make a change on its bench once his contract concludes at the end of this season."
This season, the Houston Rockets have been one of the worst teams in the NBA. They have the second-lowest win total in the league (20), trailing only the Detroit Pistons (16).
During his tenure with the Rockets, Silas has a record of 57-177. While the team has won more games with each passing season, it appears the organization wants to go in another direction.
Who could replace Stephen Silas as Houston Rockets head coach?
After being near the bottom of the league for the past three years, the Rockets are looking to make a big splash. All season, they've been connected to a possible reuinion with All-Star point guard James Harden.
With the possibility of bringing in Harden on the table, the Houston Rockets need a big name coach to bring him in. That is why Stephen Silas is likely on his way out.
As for replacements, the two names that Jake Fischer mentioned were Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse and Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Scott Brooks. The latter has a close connection with Harden from their time together with the OKC Thunder.
After a long stint in Toronto, it appears Nurse could be on the move. If he leaves, he will be one of the most sought-out coaching candidates on the market. In his five seasons, he has a regular season record of 226-162 and a postseason record of 25-16. Nurse also led the Raptors to their only NBA title in 2019.
Based on all the reports, it appears Houston wants to make a big splash this summer in an attempt to shoot up the standings in 2023-24.