Houston Rockets Reveal Top Offseason Priority
The Houston Rockets are currently in the midst of a competitive second round series with the Los Angeles Lakers. If they win, a championship will suddenly become a very realistic prospect.
Regardless of this year’s outcome, though, the organization has a big offseason ahead. Head coach Mike D’Antoni is in the final year of his contract and there are a lot of rumors regarding him potentially moving on.
Recently, team general manager Daryl Morey was asked by USA Today reporter Mark Medina where bringing back D’Antoni fell on his list of priorities.
“It’s probably number one,” he said. “That’s a fair way to put it. We have all our key players signed. I think Mike coming back is super important.”
D’Antoni’s time with the Rockets has been a success by any objective measure. Although the team never won a title – it has come close.
Three years ago, Houston was one Chris Paul injury away from defeating the Golden State Warriors and playing in the NBA Finals. Had they made it to the big dance that season, they likely would have emerged victorious.
We could see a new three-headed monster very soon. https://t.co/8nzTLGrb3U
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 6, 2020
Nevertheless, despite his 217-101 mark with the James Harden-led Rockets, some have wondered if perhaps the organization would opt to go in a different direction this offseason due to a lack of championship success.
Team owner Tilman Fertitta seemed reluctant to extend D’Antoni beyond a one-year deal, and that offer did not sit will with the modern day face of the run-and-gun offense.
Rumors have run rampant recently about D’Antoni possibly heading out East and joining the Indiana Pacers, or staying in the West and linking up with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Given the option of remaining in Houston with Harden and Russell Westbrook, or attempting to start anew in New Orleans or Indiana, D’Antoni would obviously prefer to stay where he is. He just wants to be fairly compensated for his troubles.
Based on Morey’s most recent comments, it appears there is a path to that happening.
Devin Booker has a lot of fans. https://t.co/PypvWHr6iF
— Game 7 (@game7__) September 5, 2020
If D’Antoni leads the Rockets past LA, through whoever they play in the Western Conference Finals, and then to an NBA championship, he will undoubtedly get a new, long-term deal.
However, if Houston comes up short – it will be interesting to see if Morey ultimately sticks by his word and truly makes re-signing D’Antoni the Rockets’ top priority this offseason.
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Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
