Despite whispers of stability, questionable contract decisions and offensive struggles raise doubts about the Rockets' coaching path. Is loyalty costing them a winning edge?
With the Houston Rocket’s season coming to an end this weekend, people are already looking forward to next season. Much to the chagrin of fans, Sam Amick and Will Guillory reportedly don’t think Ime Udoka is on the hot seat.
It’s a little disheartening that the leading reason for him keeping the job seems to be linked to his long-term contract. To me, that just points to the front office (or ownership) being cheap.
There’s been plenty of reasons why fans have wanted a new head coach in Houston, as covered on Roundtable. From player rotations to late game decision making, money should be the least of anyone’s concerns.
That’s easy for me to say when I’m not shelling out millions, but that’s just the way the NBA works. Coaches’ contracts don’t count against the salary cap. A team could theoretically pay a different coach ten million dollars each 82 games if they wanted to.
The team would still have all of the same roster flexibility, as only the owner’s pocketbook would take a hit. We’ve seen teams like Phoenix, Milwaukee, and Detroit have to pay two and three coaches at the same time. Sometimes that’s what it takes to show you’re invested in winning.
Perhaps ownership and the front office will be more willing to make some winning moves next season, but we saw the same type of inactivity at the trade deadline. That was puzzling at the time, as noted on Roundtable, and seems like a major mistake in hindsight.
Some changes to the roster could’ve definitely helped save them the embarrassment of losing to an undermanned Lakers squad.
While I’m not completely sold on Ime Udoka needing to be fired, I think it’s obvious some changes need to be made. As a defensive minded coach, we saw this team struggle on the offensive end all season. Including only scoring 100 points in two out of their six playoff games.
I think at the bare minimum they need to bring in some assistant coaches who can diversify the offense. That could be tricky because Ime would also need to listen to and be willing to take advice from people. And you don’t want him feeling like he’s already in the process of being replaced and being undermined as a head coach.
In all reality, I think it’s more likely that the organization just chalks this season up as a wash. While Rafael Stone says he regrets his comments about this not being Houston’s year, per Sports-Illustrated I think he just regrets saying it in public.
They’ll look to come into next season with a healthy Steven Adams and Fred VanVleet — plus whatever additions they make in the offseason — and jump right back into next season. Maybe that’ll be the only changes that need to be made, but only time will tell.