:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/67570781/usa_today_13590408.0.jpg)
The coaching search for the Houston Rockets seems to be heating up, with the team already scheduled to meet with Stephen Silas and Wes Unseld Jr. Doc Rivers was originally up next, but he’s suddenly off the market, so the Houston front office is turning their attention elsewhere.
Next week, the team has an interview with former Los Angeles Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Ty Lue meets with the #Sixers about vacant coaching job https://t.co/ArLTjUBvwL via @phillyinquirer
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) September 30, 2020
Lue has been thought of as one of the leading candidates for the job in Houston since it became available, and he’ll be the biggest name on the interview list until this point. Prior to his work with the Clippers, Lue was head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he won the title in 2016, and he was also an assistant in Cleveland and with the Boston Celtics.
He carries a 128-83 (.607) all-time coaching record in the regular season and is an impressive 41-20 in the playoffs.
But Lue isn’t the only one up next. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Minnesota Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool is also scheduled for an interview in H-town.
Minnesota Timberwolves associate HC David Vanterpool will interview for the Houston Rockets head coaching job, sources tell ESPN. Vanterpool spent seven seasons on Portland staff before becoming the top assistant with Minnesota a year ago.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 2, 2020
Like Lue, Vanterpool is a former player, but he spent most of his time playing overseas and in the ABA, appearing in just 22 games in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, but he’s gone on to a successful career as a coach and in player personnel since then.
Before assisting in Minnesota, he also as an assistant with the Portland Trail Blazers and served as the Director of Player Personnel with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
I don’t know a lot of about Vanterpool personally, but our colleagues over at The Bird Writes did a great piece on him a few weeks back, so I suggest you check it out to learn more about him.