The Rockets are looking for a lead assistant coach to groom into the head coaching role, and apparently their list starts three deep. According to The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen, they’ll interview Memphis assistant David Joerger sometime this week:
The Rockets will also consider New Orleans Hornets assistant Michael Malone and Milwaukee Bucks assistant Kelvin Sampson, the individual familiar with the process said. Malone is considered a top candidate to join Mike Brown with the Los Angeles Lakers as a lead assistant. He had been on Brown’s staff in Cleveland before joining Monty Williams in New Orleans this season.
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“I think one day he will be a head coach,” said Rockets guard Kyle Lowry, who was with Joeger with the Grizzlies. “I’d love to have him on the Rockets bench.”
The Rockets would be very lucky to snag a coach like Joerger to sit the bench next to Kevin McHale. Houston will likely continue to take their time with the hires though, as they’ll have a month before the NBA Lockout is set to go into effect.