In addition to broaching the possibility of trading Jalen Green, the Houston Rockets discussed a number of potential free agents with head coaching candidates before settling on Ime Udoka.

Khris Middleton, who has a $40.4 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks, was discussed by the Rockets with their candidates. Middleton's future with the Bucks is uncertain as he comes off two straight seasons in which he was limited by injury.

The Bucks have little recourse to replace Middleton if he leaves via free agency, but they are facing the repeater tax and that complicates the number of seasons they can comfortably offer.

Middleton is represented by Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz.

The Houston Rockets discussed the possibility of including Jalen Green in a trade offer for an established star when they interviewed head coaching candidates, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Green was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft and averaged 22.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in his second season.

The Rockets hired Ime Udoka as head coach and have designs on expediting their rebuild. They have been linked with a free agent pursuit of James Harden, while the possibility of pursuing Khris Middleton in free agency was also discussed.

Jaylen Brown, who has been one of Udoka's most public supporters, becomes extension eligible with the Boston Celtics this offseason. Brown can become a free agent in 2024 if he doesn't sign an extension.

The Houston Rockets agreed to hire Ime Udoka as head coach this week a few months after he was suspended by the Boston Celtics for an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

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. "There was nothing they found to be disqualifying to work again in the NBA. Certainly, there was an initial year-long suspension that turned into a dismissal as Joe Mazzulla was having success with that team.

"But I think for Houston, certainly they met Udoka in person, they spent time with him. They talked to a lot of people who have worked with him, who have known him, who vouch for him through the years at different organizations and came to the decision they would be willing to offer their head coaching job and make a significant commitment to him contractually."

Ime Udoka has agreed to become the next head coach of the Houston Rockets.

Udoka was also a strong candidate for the Toronto Raptors' head coaching vacancy, while he was also considered by the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets for their jobs.

Udoka was suspended and later dismissed by the Boston Celtics after findings of an inappropriate workplace relationship. Udoka led the Celtics to an appearance in The Finals in his first season as head coach.

According to sources that spoke with ESPN, "the Rockets probed the circumstances around Udoka’s Celtics departure with the team and league office."

Nick Nurse and Sam Cassell were among the other candidates linked to the Rockets' vacancy.

The Houston Rockets will interview Sam Cassell this Sunday for the team's vacant head coach role, sources told Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Cassell is currently an assistant for the Sixers.

The Rockets have been linked with several coaches, including Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, and Kevin Young.

There continues to be dialogue in the media linking James Harden with a potential return to the Houston Rockets this offseason. The Rockets will have max cap space and Harden has interest in a return to the franchise he played for between 2012 and 2021.

How the Philadelphia 76ers fare in the playoffs could go a long ways in determining what happens with Harden.

"James Harden's future is very unclear in Philadelphia," said Adrian Wojnarowski on his podcast. "Houston is very much in play for him. And I think a lot may depend on [whether] they make a run and win and it's easy to pay him long-term big money, or he just wants to be in Houston. Win or lose he goes, or it's dependent on the team's success."

Harden re-signed with the Sixers last offseason on a two-year, $68.6 million deal.

Ime Udoka will interview with the Houston Rockets for their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday.

The Boston Celtics parted ways with Udoka after he was suspended by the franchise for violations of team policies with an inmate relationship with a member of the staff.

The Rockets are searching for a new head coach after parting ways with Stephen Silas.

Udoka was nearly hired as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets after the team fired Steve Nash.

The Houston Rockets have received permission to interview Sam Cassell for their head coach opening. Cassell is currently an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers, who begin their first-round playoff series with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday.

Cassell is a former Rockets player. He was a big part of Houston winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995. Cassell began his coaching career in 2009 and has spent the last nine seasons as an assistant coach under Doc Rivers with the LA Clippers and the Sixers.

The Rockets declined their fourth-year option for head coach Stephen Silas, following three straight seasons near the bottom of the NBA standings. Houston is conducting a wide-ranging search and is believed to have already begun the interviewing process with Ime Udoka and Frank Vogel.

The Houston Rockets have received permission to speak to Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson and Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young, sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The Rockets are looking to hire a candidate with head-coaching experience, but will also look at intriguing assistant coaches.

The Rockets are also interested in talking to Ime Udoka, Frank Vogel, Adrian Griffin, and James Borrego, as well as Nick Nurse should he become available.  

The Houston Rockets are expected to decline their fourth-year option for head coach Stephen Silas. This will end Silas' three-year tenure as Rockets head coach.

Houston is expected to go after an experienced head coach. Names under consideration are Ime Udoka, Kenny Atkinson, Frank Vogel and Nick Nurse.

Udoka has not coached this season after being suspended by the Boston Celtics for inappropriate workplace conduct. Udoka and the Celtics have parted ways and he's eligible to interview for new jobs this offseason. Udoka led Boston to the 2022 NBA Finals in his lone season as Celtics head coach.

Atkinson was initially named as the Charlotte Hornets head coach last offseason, before changing his mind. He returned to the Golden State Warriors as an assistant coach. Atkinson previously ran the sideline for the Brooklyn Nets for four seasons.

Vogel has sat out this season after being fired by the Los Angeles Lakers after the 2021-22 season. Vogel won the 2020 title with the Lakers. He has also coached the Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic.

Nick Nurse is widely expected to consider other opportunities this summer as a coaching free agent. Nurse has coached the Raptors for five seasons, including winning the 2019 NBA Finals.