Houston Rockets fans have had nearly a month to reflect on the team's elimination at the hands of the Golden State Warriors in Round 1 of the 2024-25 NBA playoffs. The time for reflection and dreaming of what could've been is over, though, as the Rockets must now prepare for the upcoming NBA draft and free agency period.
The Rockets will spend the summer looking to give head coach Ime Udoka as much help to improve the odds of a second consecutive postseason appearance. Interestingly enough, part of Houston's offseason could also be spent preventing another team from trying to steal the standout head coach.
Knicks Reportedly Interesting in Rockets HC Ime Udoka, Houston Expected to Reject Interviews
On Tuesday, the New York Knicks created some early offseason shockwaves by firing head coach Tom Thibodeau following a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. It didn't take long for NBA insider Marc Stein to report that the Knicks are interested in the idea of Udoka potentially filling their new opening.
Having said that, don't expect the Rockets to let go of their head coach that easily.
"(Houston) has no interest in entertaining (the Celtics potentially interviewing Udoka), a team source told The Athletic," Rockets insider Kelly Iko reported on Wednesday afternoon. "Both parties are committed to the long-term project and are actively preparing for a busy offseason."
Both the Knicks' interest in Udoka as well as the Rockets' desire to keep their bench boss aren't surprising. The 47-year-old Portland, OR native has two 50-win performances in his first three seasons as a head coach, which includes leading the 2021-22 Boston Celtics to an NBA Finals appearance.
Since leaving Boston, Udoka has led the Rockets to a 93-71 record across the last two seasons, which includes last year's 52-win performance — good for second in the Western Conference. He's proven that he can get the most out of everyone on the roster, so it's easy to see why the Knicks would find Udoka attractive as they search for their first championship appearance since 1999.
The Rockets have no reason to let Udoka go after the franchise finally snapped their postseason drought, though. All signs point to Houston being a powerhouse out west again next season, especially when the Finals-bound Oklahoma City Thunder were the conference's only team with a better record.
At the end of the day, the Rockets should be flattered that the Knicks view Udoka as a potential Thibodeau replacement, especially when considering his ties to the rival Boston Celtics. Having said that, Houston would upset a lot of fans if it even entertained an interview, making it likely any potential requests from New York will be shot down immediately.
With Udoka unlikely to go anywhere this summer, Rockets fans can continue focusing on important offseason dates. The 2025 NBA draft begins on June 25 followed by free agency's start on July 6, meaning it won't be long before fans knock who'll be playing under their coveted head coach next season.