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Stephen Silas acknowledges uncertain future with Rockets

ben dubose
·2 min read

For a third straight year, the Houston Rockets will finish the 2022-23 campaign with one of the NBA’s three worst records. On paper, that doesn’t speak well to head coach Stephen Silas, who has overseen the on-court product over all of those years.

Then again, there are some obvious extenuating circumstances. Most notably, Silas was hired in November 2020 when the Rockets had a veteran-laden roster led by former MVPs James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and they’ve since transitioned to a clear rebuilding emphasis with numerous players at 21 years old or younger.

Silas was signed to a three-year contract with a team option for a fourth season, which means this is the last year that Silas is owed a guaranteed salary from the franchise. Thus, should the Rockets want to go a different direction, there’s a clear path for them to do so.

The question is whether general manager Rafael Stone and owner Tilman Fertitta believe such a move is prudent, and specifically how they evaluate Silas within the context of a young roster that was destined to have massive growing pains regardless of who the coach is.

Prior to Tuesday’s home finale versus Denver, Silas expressed pride over his team’s performance over these three years, but added that he had yet to hear from either Stone or ownership about his future.

Among his comments:

I found strength in myself that I didn’t necessarily know that I had. I am proud of the job that I’ve done. I have a three-year contract and this is the last home game of my three years, so whatever happens, happens after this, but… I can’t be anything but proud.

In response to a follow-up question, Silas acknowledged the lack of talks regarding his future with the team after this season.

Houston finishes its 2022-23 season on Sunday in Washington, and the team typically makes Stone available to the media within the following day or two as part of “exit interviews” to wrap up the year and preview the offseason. That could be the first opportunity to hear the team’s perspective on how things will play out with Silas.

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Story originally appeared on Rockets Wire