Ime Udoka hired as Rockets coach

[slamtheking]

local sports guy on the radio was saying this morning the Raptors hired him.  he's not terribly reliable but wondered if something had changed over night with the Ime signing.  apparently not, sports guy wrong again.

[Moranis]

Udoka is off to a good start with the Houston Rockets, given the team's bevy of cap space and the promising presence of top-tier prospects on their roster, not to mention the potential of landing Victor Wembanyama in this year's draft.

The scenario evokes memories of the 1990s when Rick Pitino assumed the reins of the Boston Celtics.

I'm fairly certain Udoka was told the Rockets would be active in free agency and try to use the cap space.  They have a nice young core, are going to add a top level player from this draft, and have room for 2 max (or very close to max) level free agents.  I always thought this was the best job available and was wondering why people thought Udoka would go to Toronto over Houston. 

I mean Smith, Green, Porter, Sengun is a very nice start plus they have Tate, Eason, Martin, Nix, Washington, Christopher, and Garuba all who got regular minutes and all on rookie deals.  They will almost certainly end up with a top 5 pick in the draft.

[slamtheking]

Udoka is off to a good start with the Houston Rockets, given the team's bevy of cap space and the promising presence of top-tier prospects on their roster, not to mention the potential of landing Victor Wembanyama in this year's draft.

The scenario evokes memories of the 1990s when Rick Pitino assumed the reins of the Boston Celtics.

I'm fairly certain Udoka was told the Rockets would be active in free agency and try to use the cap space.  They have a nice young core, are going to add a top level player from this draft, and have room for 2 max (or very close to max) level free agents.  I always thought this was the best job available and was wondering why people thought Udoka would go to Toronto over Houston. 

I mean Smith, Green, Porter, Sengun is a very nice start plus they have Tate, Eason, Martin, Nix, Washington, Christopher, and Garuba all who got regular minutes and all on rookie deals.  They will almost certainly end up with a top 5 pick in the draft.

it's one thing to have room to sign 1 or 2 max players but it's a completely other thing for there to be a player worth the max not only on the market but to be interested in signing with a team that has a load of youth to develop before they can get anywhere -- and most likely not be ready to really make waves (provided any of the youth pan out) until that max deal is ready to expire

[Moranis]

Udoka is off to a good start with the Houston Rockets, given the team's bevy of cap space and the promising presence of top-tier prospects on their roster, not to mention the potential of landing Victor Wembanyama in this year's draft.

The scenario evokes memories of the 1990s when Rick Pitino assumed the reins of the Boston Celtics.

I'm fairly certain Udoka was told the Rockets would be active in free agency and try to use the cap space.  They have a nice young core, are going to add a top level player from this draft, and have room for 2 max (or very close to max) level free agents.  I always thought this was the best job available and was wondering why people thought Udoka would go to Toronto over Houston. 

I mean Smith, Green, Porter, Sengun is a very nice start plus they have Tate, Eason, Martin, Nix, Washington, Christopher, and Garuba all who got regular minutes and all on rookie deals.  They will almost certainly end up with a top 5 pick in the draft.

it's one thing to have room to sign 1 or 2 max players but it's a completely other thing for there to be a player worth the max not only on the market but to be interested in signing with a team that has a load of youth to develop before they can get anywhere -- and most likely not be ready to really make waves (provided any of the youth pan out) until that max deal is ready to expire

I don't see why they could do exactly what the Cavs did when Lebron returned (you know except not having anyone as good as Lebron) i.e. sign Lebron, keep Irving, trade assets for Love.  I get there aren't any great free agents out there, but I do think Harden would be interesting for them.  Maybe sign Harden, sign Kuzma, and trade for Draymond with lesser assets.  They'd still have all of the prime assets to either grow or trade when a true #1 comes on the market.  Perhaps someone like Anthony Davis who the Lakers decide to move on from.  Smith, Green, s&t Gordon for Davis seems like a fair value type deal.  Houston goes all in and the Lakers start a build back to a future dynasty (while still having Lebron, Russell, Beasley, etc. to keep them relevant)

[slamtheking]

Udoka is off to a good start with the Houston Rockets, given the team's bevy of cap space and the promising presence of top-tier prospects on their roster, not to mention the potential of landing Victor Wembanyama in this year's draft.

The scenario evokes memories of the 1990s when Rick Pitino assumed the reins of the Boston Celtics.

I'm fairly certain Udoka was told the Rockets would be active in free agency and try to use the cap space.  They have a nice young core, are going to add a top level player from this draft, and have room for 2 max (or very close to max) level free agents.  I always thought this was the best job available and was wondering why people thought Udoka would go to Toronto over Houston. 

I mean Smith, Green, Porter, Sengun is a very nice start plus they have Tate, Eason, Martin, Nix, Washington, Christopher, and Garuba all who got regular minutes and all on rookie deals.  They will almost certainly end up with a top 5 pick in the draft.

it's one thing to have room to sign 1 or 2 max players but it's a completely other thing for there to be a player worth the max not only on the market but to be interested in signing with a team that has a load of youth to develop before they can get anywhere -- and most likely not be ready to really make waves (provided any of the youth pan out) until that max deal is ready to expire

I don't see why they could do exactly what the Cavs did when Lebron returned (you know except not having anyone as good as Lebron) i.e. sign Lebron, keep Irving, trade assets for Love.  I get there aren't any great free agents out there, but I do think Harden would be interesting for them.  Maybe sign Harden, sign Kuzma, and trade for Draymond with lesser assets.  They'd still have all of the prime assets to either grow or trade when a true #1 comes on the market.  Perhaps someone like Anthony Davis who the Lakers decide to move on from.  Smith, Green, s&t Gordon for Davis seems like a fair value type deal.  Houston goes all in and the Lakers start a build back to a future dynasty (while still having Lebron, Russell, Beasley, etc. to keep them relevant)

Harden's your idea of a Max player?   he's a long way from those days.  Kuzma is fool's gold as well.   Green's best days are long behind him as well.  Houston adds those 3 and they're a play-in team as long as they're on the roster

[Who]

Jerami Grant could be an interesting FA target for Houston. He could play at SF in between Jalen Green at SG and Jabari Smith Jr at PF. Sengun at C. Cam Johnson (best option) and Harrison Barnes are also options at SF for Houston. Then Miles Bridges, Kuzma, Dillon Brooks.

Funnily enough, Kyrie Irving looks the best free agent PG on the market. They could use Harden at PG on offense and have Jalen Green try to defend the point. D'Angelo Russell is one of the next bigger names on the list. A more likely target for a 22 win team to end up with.

Vucevic and Poeltl look to be the best center options. Not sure Vuce has much interest in leaving Chicago. Poeltl would likely take a gross overpay given his talent level.

22 win teams generally do not do well in free agency. Most vets in their prime do not want to team up with kids who haven't learned how to play winning basketball yet.

[slamtheking]

Jerami Grant could be an interesting FA target for Houston. He could play at SF in between Jalen Green at SG and Jabari Smith Jr at PF. Sengun at C. Cam Johnson (best option) and Harrison Barnes are also options at SF for Houston. Then Miles Bridges, Kuzma, Dillon Brooks.

Funnily enough, Kyrie Irving looks the best free agent PG on the market. They could use Harden at PG on offense and have Jalen Green try to defend the point. D'Angelo Russell is one of the next bigger names on the list. A more likely target for a 22 win team to end up with.

Vucevic and Poeltl look to be the best center options. Not sure Vuce has much interest in leaving Chicago. Poeltl would likely take a gross overpay given his talent level.

22 win teams generally do not do well in free agency. Most vets in their prime do not want to team up with kids who haven't learned how to play winning basketball yet.

exactly the point I was trying to make earlier when Houston's cap room was mentioned

[Moranis]

Jerami Grant could be an interesting FA target for Houston. He could play at SF in between Jalen Green at SG and Jabari Smith Jr at PF. Sengun at C. Cam Johnson (best option) and Harrison Barnes are also options at SF for Houston. Then Miles Bridges, Kuzma, Dillon Brooks.

Funnily enough, Kyrie Irving looks the best free agent PG on the market. They could use Harden at PG on offense and have Jalen Green try to defend the point. D'Angelo Russell is one of the next bigger names on the list. A more likely target for a 22 win team to end up with.

Vucevic and Poeltl look to be the best center options. Not sure Vuce has much interest in leaving Chicago. Poeltl would likely take a gross overpay given his talent level.

22 win teams generally do not do well in free agency. Most vets in their prime do not want to team up with kids who haven't learned how to play winning basketball yet.

exactly the point I was trying to make earlier when Houston's cap room was mentioned

stars still don't leave all that often, but it doesn't really seem to matter who is there when they sign.  They do sometimes push for trades like the Clippers did to land George to appease Irving or the Cavs did with Love to appease Lebron (though Love wasn't acquired for like a month after Lebron came back).  Or sometimes they go someplace with one other guy like Durant and Irving (though they went to a young team and then pushed those guys out after a year where they barely played).  And I think a large part of that is, most teams that have cap space aren't very good teams.  Sure you get the weird cap spike years that allowed GS to sign Durant, but most of the time the big time free agents that actually leave do actually go to younger/cheaper teams.  Just the nature of the beast.

[SHAQATTACK]

So this is good for Celtics ,  Ime served his time , and now has another NBA job.   Things have settled

I feel better for him and Celtics , we can let this go  move on to more basketball and good times.

[Goldstar88]

Hide your wives… 

[MattyIce]

So this is good for Celtics ,  Ime served his time , and now has another NBA job.   Things have settled

I feel better for him and Celtics , we can let this go  move on to more basketball and good times.

after we lose another assistant or two

[Who]

Houston reportedly felt comfortable with the opinion of the NBA league office that Udoka's behavior didn't rise to the level of "disqualifying" him for employment.

"The league office reviewed the independent report that the Celtics had commissioned in the aftermath of Udoka's improper relationship with a woman in that organization within the basketball realm in Boston... that there was nothing the league office was telling them precluded Houston or any other team from hiring Ime Udoka," said Adrian Wojnarowski on Outside the Lines.

from RealGM

[Moranis]

Houston reportedly felt comfortable with the opinion of the NBA league office that Udoka's behavior didn't rise to the level of "disqualifying" him for employment.

"The league office reviewed the independent report that the Celtics had commissioned in the aftermath of Udoka's improper relationship with a woman in that organization within the basketball realm in Boston... that there was nothing the league office was telling them precluded Houston or any other team from hiring Ime Udoka," said Adrian Wojnarowski on Outside the Lines.

from RealGM

which makes sense as I don't think Udoka broke any NBA rules, just employer rules.

[SparzWizard]

So this is good for Celtics ,  Ime served his time , and now has another NBA job.   Things have settled

I feel better for him and Celtics , we can let this go  move on to more basketball and good times.

after we lose another assistant or two

Just take Joe Mazzula with him. We'll get a new coach out there.

[Phantom255x]

Ime spoke a little today about the end of his C's tenure in his introductory presser:

Ime Udoka on the controversy surrounding him leaving Boston:

“They’ve done their homework and due diligence of who I am as a person. I spent the last off-season growing in a lot of ways. The situation has been resolved and I can’t speak else much more about it.”

Ime Udoka said he took accountability for the Celtics' decision to suspend him. He said he preaches that to his players and also needs to do it himself: "It was their right to go about it however they wanted to and that's the choice they took."

In his introductory press conference, Ime Udoka apologizes for his actions in Boston. Said he's gone through sensitivity training and also counseling with his son.

Udoka, asked about the Celtics exit:  "My part in it was to take ownership and accountability ... they had a choice to make a decision [and] they went that route ... it was their right to go about it the way that they wanted to."