NBA Rumors: Houston Rockets Is Ditching Kenny Smith as Head Coach Candidate
TNT analyst and former Rockets guard Kenny Smith has been reportedly taken off the list of Houston's preferred candidates to assume the head coach position according to anonymous insider reports. After the news of being ditched by the Rockets came out, Smith sounded like he has resigned to the fact that being an NBA coach requires more than a regular broadcasting presence.
Smith may have had demonstrated some insights about NBA as an analyst but transitioning from being a broadcaster to be part on the field as a coach is not as easy as it sounds. For one thing, the former Rockets player never had a solid coaching experience in his resume. While he does have direct ties to the team, the last time he had seen action on the court was way back in 1990-1996 when he played for team and won back-to-back titles in '94 and '95, Sportal reported.
It's reasonable if the team prefers to choose someone with proven experience and skills for head and assistant coach positions. His good relationship with franchise owner Leslie Alexander may not have been enough to convince the latter to install him as a viable replacement to Kevin McHale.
"Some of the information is sensitive when you're talking to a team...The Rockets have a philosophy of what they think their coach should be," Smith said on TNT as quoted by ESPN. "But right now I'm here, and it looks like I'm going to be here."
Now that Kenny Smith is off the list, the Rockets will still need to sort out the best fit who will led the team to a more promising season.
According to the Houston Chronicle, the franchise has so far interviewed a handful of candidates which include names like ex-Cavaliers coach David Blatt, former Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, ex-Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni, Clippers assistant Sam Cassell, Hornets assistant Stephen Silas and Rockets associate head coach Chris Finch.
