Ty Lue is reportedly a 'serious candidate' for Rockets head coach - Rockets Wire

Tyronn Lue is a “serious candidate” for the vacant position of head coach with the Houston Rockets, reports Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Lue just finished his first season as a Los Angeles Clippers assistant, and he previously worked as head coach of the Cavaliers over parts of four seasons. Now 43 years old, Lue led Cleveland to its only NBA title in 2016.

During an 11-year career as a player, Lue briefly played for Houston in the 2004-05 season. A point guard known for pesky defense, Lue averaged 6.0 points and 2.8 assists in 22.8 minutes per game with the Rockets.

In a mailbag story posted Monday, Iko was asked if Lue is a serious candidate for Houston’s current job, as well as whether Lue’s NBA coaching experience was sufficient. Here’s a sampling of Iko’s answer:

Lue is a serious candidate. I disagree with the notion that his sample size is hard to gauge. Remember it was Lue who took over the job from David Blatt midway through the 2016 season and led the Cavaliers to the promised land, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to steal a Game 7 win in Oakland. That of course takes LeBron James, but also coaching guts.

During his stint in Cleveland, Lue led the Cavs to three straight Finals appearances. I’m fairly certain anyone within the Rockets organization would take those odds, especially being able to garner the respect of the greatest player in the world and compete on the league’s highest platform. …

Lue has won and connected with LeBron. It also depends on the pieces put around, but he’s experienced enough to do the same with Harden and Westbrook. Lue’s best tactical work was done in the postseason, an area where the Rockets have come up short four times in a row during D’Antoni’s time. In an interview, his best selling strategy will be the star names he’s worked with: LeBron, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Lunchtime read on ⁦@TheAthleticNBA⁩

Rockets mailbag, Part 1: Head coach power rankings, staying power of small ball https://t.co/aZf00AeFFT

— Kelly Iko (@KellyIkoNBA) September 21, 2020

Lue and fellow Clippers assistant Sam Cassell have been among the most frequently reported candidates to replace Mike D’Antoni. Previous Houston head coach and current NBA television analyst Jeff Van Gundy is also believed to be a potential consideration. (Fun fact: Lue actually played for Van Gundy with the Rockets in that 2004-05 season.)

With the Clippers surprisingly eliminated last week from the 2020 playoffs, both Cassell and Lue should be available now for interviews.

Lue is also reportedly an option for other vacant head coaching positions around the NBA, such as Philadelphia. He is believed to be asking for close to $7 million annually, which — if obtained — would make him among the league’s most expensive coaches.

There is no clear timetable for Houston’s search, which is being led by GM Daryl Morey. When the job was last open in 2016, Morey interviewed at least a dozen candidates over a span of approximately one month.

Something, most people don’t remember: that’s former Houston Rocket Tyronn Lue. https://t.co/zmjrJfadrR pic.twitter.com/0CCZGBzYC0

— RedNinetyFour (@RedNinetyFour) September 13, 2020