Mike D'Antoni has emerged as the frontrunner to become the next head coach of the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets have begun gauging the market on possible top assistant coaches to join D'Antoni.

Jeff Van Gundy is no longer a candidate for the Rockets' job as Daryl Morey didn't want to drag him through an extended process and the team ultimately decided they wanted a different type of coach.

D'Antoni returned to the NBA midseason as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia 76ers.