Inside The Celtics

Ime Udoka Reportedly a Top Candidate for Multiple Head-Coaching Vacancies

Two teams with promising young cores are showing interest in hiring Ime Udoka.

Bobby Krivitsky

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Sunday at TD Garden, the Celtics wrapped up a 57-25 campaign with a 120-114 victory over the Hawks.

It's the second-most regular-season wins by a rookie head coach in franchise history.

Easter Sunday and the conclusion of the 2022-23 campaign for teams that didn't reach the postseason also brought news of multiple head-coaching jobs becoming available.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Rockets, who at 22-60, finished tied for the second-worst record in the Association, are declining Stephen Silas' fourth-year option.

That news lacks surprise considering Houston's struggles over the last three years and the franchise likely having hoped for more development and consistency from promising young players like Jalen Green and Jabari Smith.

But with a roster featuring those two, Alperen Sengun, and another top pick on the way, the Rockets are putting together a young core with immense potential.

They're one of the teams with the highest percentage chance of getting the top selection in this year's draft (14 percent) and winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes. Houston will also have a 52.1 percent chance of picking in the top four.

The most frequently mentioned rumor regarding who will be the Rockets' bench boss is Nick Nurse leaving the Raptors to take his talents to Houston.

But Wojnarowski reports that top candidates include former Celtic Ime Udoka, Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson, and former Lakers' head coach Frank Vogel.

Shortly before media day and the start of training camp, the Celtics suspended Udoka for the 2022-23 season for violations of team policy, something team owner Wyc Grousbeck stated was "well warranted and appropriate" while addressing the matter at a late-September press conference.

The Nets nearly hired Udoka in November before that fell through, with Marc Stein reporting on his Substack, "strong voices" urged team owner Joe Tsai not to go through with it. The franchise was also dealing with the fallout from Kyrie Irving promoting an anti-Semitic movie on social media at that time.

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According to Wojnarowski, Dwane Casey is moving to the Pistons' front office, creating another head-coaching vacancy. Detroit's another franchise building around a promising young core.

The team from the Motor City drafted Jaden Ivey fifth overall in the 2022 draft and acquired Jalen Duren, the 13th pick, in a trade later that night. The former averaged 19.3 points and 7.1 assists after the All-Star break, per NBA.com.

The latter produced 9.1 points, 8.9 rebounds, and nearly a block per game this season. The 19-year-old Duren led all rookies in rebounds and dunks, and he finished the campaign with 19 double-doubles, the fourth-most by a teenager in NBA history behind only Moses Malone, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com.

Detroit also acquired 2020 second-overall selection James Wiseman at the trade deadline. The change of scenery did Wiseman well, and he responded by averaging 12.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and nearly a block per contest.

The Pistons also welcome Cade Cunningham back into the fold after the first pick in the 2021 Draft played in only 12 games this season before undergoing surgery on his left shin.

At 17-65, Detroit finished the 2022-23 campaign with the NBA's worst record. That means, like the Rockets, the Pistons have a 14 percent chance at the top pick and a 52.1 percent chance of drafting in the top four.

Per Wojnarowski, Bucks assistant Charles Lee, Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin, Ime Udoka, and Heat assistant Chris Quinn are among the candidates to take the baton from Casey.

Further Reading

The NBA Announces When the Playoffs Start for the Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Win vs. Hawks: Boston's Three-Point Barrage Propels Hosts Past Atlanta

Brad Stevens Provides Update on Celtics' Star Jaylen Brown's Injured Right Hand

Jayson Tatum is Ready for the Challenges that Await the Celtics in the Playoffs: 'We've Not Been Waiting for it But Working for it'

Jaylen Brown Shares What Winning the Red Auerbach Award Means to Him: 'I've Put My Everything Into This Team, I've Put My Everything Into This City'

Celtics Discuss Malcolm Brogdon's Sixth Man of the Year Candidacy

Joe Mazzulla Reacts to the Celtics Clinching the Two Seed in the East

Jaylen Brown on His Relationship with Jayson Tatum: 'We’re a Part of Each Other’s Destiny'

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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