Report: Nick Nurse is a potential head coaching candidate for Rockets

If Houston decides to step away from Stephen Silas, longtime Raptors head coach Nick Nurse could play for the Rockets in the 2023 offseason. accordingly Toronto Star Reporter Doug Smith.

The Rockets have a team option on Silas’ contract for the 2023-24 season, which could make it a financially good time to move on should they choose to do so. Houston has had one of the two worst records in the NBA in each of Silas’ three seasons with the team, though the team’s rebuilding movement with one of the league’s youngest rosters is clearly out of his control.

From Smith’s report:

The chirping has already begun in the NBA and will spread even further as the Raptors season reaches its ultimately disappointing conclusion.
You’ll hear Nick Nurse could be out as a coach, you’ll hear he’s destined to go to Houston, and then you’ll hear Ime Udoka is the front-runner replacing him in Toronto when they go out go the current staff, which seems likely.
The Houston part… just doesn’t want to leave the rumor mill. Nurse certainly has connections there – check out his G League history.

For Smith, Nurse was the head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers – Houston’s NBA G League affiliate – from 2011 to 2013. From there, Nurse left the Vipers for a stint as an assistant to the Raptors before taking over as Toronto head coach in 2018.

In nearly five seasons with the Raptors, Nurse is 224-160 (.583) in the regular season and 25-16 (.610) in three playoff runs, including Toronto’s 2019 championship.

From Houston’s perspective, Nurse, if available, could be a more viable option compared to Silas. While it would be unfair to blame Silas for his records over the past three seasons, he has not had nearly the success as a head coach that Nurse has. For the Rockets looking to turn 2023-24 quickly with future draft pick commitments for Oklahoma City come back into playthis proven track record could gain traction.

The Rockets are already out of the 2023 playoffs, so a decision on Silas’ future could come shortly after their regular season ends on Sunday, April 9. However, Toronto (38-38) will remain likely to qualify for the Eastern Conference game-in tournament as they push toward the 2023 playoffs. This, in turn, could delay Nurse’s potential market availability to the Rockets and other teams by at least a couple of days.

Stay tuned!