If Houston decides to move on from Stephen Silas, longtime Raptors head coach Nick Nurse could be in play for the Rockets in the 2023 offseason. according to Toronto Star reporter Doug Smith.
The Rockets hold a team option on Silas’ contract for the 2023-24 season, which could it make it a financially convenient time to move on, should they choose to do so. Houston has had one of the NBA’s two worst records in each of Silas’ three seasons with the team, though the team’s rebuilding movement with one of the league’s youngest rosters is obviously out of his control.
From Smith’s report:
The chirping has already started around the NBA and it’s going to become more prevalent as the Raptors season reaches its ultimately disappointing conclusion.
You’ll hear that Nick Nurse may be out as the coach, you’ll hear that he’s destined to head to Houston and then you’re going to hear that Ime Udoka is the front-runner to replace him in Toronto if they go outside the current staff, which seems likely.
The Houston part… just won’t leave the rumor mill. Nurse certainly has ties there — check out his G League history.
To Smith’s point, Nurse was head coach of the Rio Grande Valley Vipers — Houston’s NBA G League affiliate — from 2011 through 2013. From there, Nurse left the Vipers for a stint as a Raptors assistant before taking over as Toronto’s head coach in 2018.
Over nearly five seasons with the Raptors, Nurse is 224-160 (.583) in the regular season and 25-16 (.610) across three playoff runs, including Toronto’s 2019 NBA championship.
NEW Raptors Insider from @SmithRaps: Is Nick Nurse destined for the Rockets? Rumours suggest Ime Udoka could replace him in Toronto. https://t.co/Uk2ybuYKc2
— Toronto Star Sports (@StarSports) March 30, 2023
From Houston’s perspective, if available, Nurse could represent a more proven option relative to Silas. While it would be unfair to place blame on Silas for his records over the last three seasons, he hasn’t yet had success as a head coach to nearly the extent that Nurse has. For the Rockets, who are looking to turn things around quickly in 2023-24 with future draft-pick obligations to Oklahoma City coming back into play, that proven track record could have appeal.
The Rockets have already been eliminated from playoff contention, so a decision on Silas’ future could come shortly after their regular season ends on Sunday, April 9. Toronto (38-38), however, remains likely to qualify for the Eastern Conference play-in tournament as they push for the 2023 playoffs. In turn, that could delay Nurse’s potential market availability by at least a few days.
Stay tuned!
