Rockets Weighing Whether To Keep Coach Stephen Silas

The Rockets are weighing the future of second-year coach Stephen Silas, according to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report.

Silas is in his second season and the Rockets are off to an awful start, with a record of 1-16 entering Wednesday’s home game against the Bulls.

The Rockets are in a rebuild phase, though they weren’t when Silas was hired in the offseason of 2020. That team still had James Harden and John Wall, as well as veteran center DeMarcus Cousins.

While general manager Rafael Stone never expected this version of the team to make the playoffs, the development of young players such as guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Jalen Green is seemingly being called into question.

“When Silas, Jeff Van Gundy and Rockets assistant John Lucas interviewed with former GM Daryl Morey for the position during the 2020 offseason, each were required to meet with James Harden and Russell Westbrook,” Fischer wrote. “Morey is now the president in Philadelphia. Harden and Westbrook, of course, are gone as well.”

Silas, the son of NBA legend and former coach Paul Silas, was put in awkward spot, an assistant GM told Fischer.

“They put him in a tough position,” the assistant GM said. “[Silas] is genuinely one of the nicest people in the NBA. He actually cares about people. To put him with a bunch of really young dudes who probably don’t care about anything but their numbers and playing time, he’s just not the right fit.”

The Kings fired Luke Walton over the weekend, making him the first coach to get axed this season. Clearly, there’s reason for concern for Silas as well.