Although, as of last night, Houston had not requested permission to speak with 76ers coach Larry Brown, the Rockets have begun their search for a new coach, a process that could include the 62-year-old Brown.

Brown, the Sixers' head coach for the last six seasons, will meet this week with team chairman Ed Snider to discuss his future. Following the Sixers' disappointing Game 6 playoff loss to Detroit on May 16, Brown said he would "sit back and walk away a little bit and think about" his future.

"I've got to find out if I feel I can make this team any better by me staying here," said Brown, who has two years left on his contract. "I don't want to hold us back. I want to coach if it's coaching here... . But I've got to sit back and see if I can make this team better as a coach."