Jay Williams now talking about NYK needing to go after Ime Udoka. That they should pry him away from the Rockets.
His reasoning being he embodies the defensive mindset of Thibs but with a better offense + Udoka knows the Celtics inside and out which is an important advantage because they will have to compete against BOS moving forward.
He's got two years left on his HOU contract and imagine he'll be getting an extension soon.
Also, if you're looking at both teams, who has the brighter future the next 5 years? It's gotta be HOU.
Yeah but NYK can pay more.
They say Udoka is earning about $7mil per year. I don't know where that ranks him in the league but it is outside the top 10. Kerr is the highest paid coach in the league at $17.5mil. NY could double ($14mil) or even triple ($21mil) Udoka's Houston Rockets salary.
Thibs was earning $11mil for NY. That is already 57% more than what Udoka is earning. Phil Jackson was paid a huge figure when he went there as a GM. I think Phil was the highest in the league at the time. $60mil 5yrs back in 2014, 11 years ago, much more money then than now for a coach / exec who have seen major inflation since then. NYK are willing to spend big bucks on coaches / front office.
-------------
There are some reports coming out now that NYK are indeed interested in Udoka. Not just a Jay Will suggestion. Houston have responded by saying he is not available. They will not make him available. Looks like they will fight to keep Udoka.
That means compensation (on top of the big salary) to get Udoka out of that Rockets contract.
The Rockets have "no interest in entertaining that," according to The Athletic.