Rockets Rumors: 76ers' Sam Cassell to Interview for HC Job; Played 3 Seasons in HOU

Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach Sam Cassell is set to interview for the Houston Rockets' head coaching position.

Kelly Iko of The Athletic reported the interview will take place Sunday.

Cassell, a former longtime NBA point guard, has been an assistant on Doc Rivers' staff in Philadelphia since 2020. He's worked under Rivers since 2014 when they were with the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Rockets are seeking a replacement for Stephen Silas, who was fired this month after posting a 59-177 in three seasons with the franchise.

Houston has cast a wide net looking for a replacement, with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson, Toronto Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Phoenix Suns assistant Kevin Young and former Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka mentioned among the potential targets.

Cassell has no head coaching experience but has been a candidate for several openings during his time on Rivers' bench.

It would stand to reason that the Rockets will prioritize a coach with experience leading a team rather than hiring another assistant. Silas was highly regarded before being hired three years ago and wound up being ill-equipped to handle the rigors of building a young roster.

Atkinson and Udoka are no-nonsense coaches who are known for holding their players accountable, something that was clearly lacking during the Silas era.

Cassell, 53, comes with the cache of his NBA career and has ties to the Rockets organization after being drafted by Houston in 1993 and playing there for three seasons. That said, it would be a bit of a surprise if a non-veteran option wound up landing this gig.