After a championship run in the NBA bubble in 2020 and two forgettable seasons due to persistent injury issues, the Los Angeles Lakers have decided to part ways with head coach Frank Vogel.
As a result of being fired after the previous season, Vogel decided to stay away from the game for at least a year, as he was not attached to any vacant coaching job.
With the end of the 2022–23 NBA regular season, coaching jobs will become available again in the league.
According to ESPN 97.5 Houston, the Houston Rockets are expected to relieve Stephen Silas of his duties, which opens the door for Vogel, Kenny Atkinson and Ime Udoka.
Ime Udoka, Frank Vogel and Kenny Atkinson are names to watch for the Houston Rockets @espn975 pic.twitter.com/4mhdXyuGy1
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 3, 2023
All three coaching candidates are big names and will be linked to several coaching vacancies around the league.
Vogel, however, is the only one with an NBA title on his resume as head coach.
Udoka and Atkinson won titles as assistants during their coaching careers in the league.
Atkinson was part of Steve Kerr’s coaching staff last season when the Golden State Warriors won it all for the fourth time in the Stephen Curry era.
Udoka was Greg Popovich’s assistant in 2014 when the San Antonio Spurs got the best of LeBron James’ Miami Heat.
If the team does indeed part with Silas, then attention will turn to the upcoming 2023 NBA draft lottery and where the Rockets will land.
Houston will become a very tricky business for the coaches if they get the No. 1 overall pick with Victor Wambenyama to take on Draft Day.
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The Houston Rockets Are Reflecting On Their Future