By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets are already in the market for new coaches.
Dwane Casey announced that he will step down as coach of the Detroit Pistons and will move into a front-office role, following a 103-81 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Detroit’s season finale.
“Tom is giving me an opportunity to move into the front office,” Casey said, referring to Pistons owner Tom Gores. “I’m excited to go to the next phase of my life. Time to spend more time with my family. This team is on the right track. They probably need to hear a new voice. This is my decision.”
Casey, 65, has coached the Pistons since 2018, but in five seasons the team went 121-263 (.315 winning percentage). Detroit made the playoffs once during his tenure, in 2018-19, but the team was swept in the first round.
Rockets parting ways with Silas
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets are declining to pick up the fourth-year option on coach Stephen Silas’ contract, per multiple sources.
Rockets general manager Rafael Stone and Silas are expected to meet soon and finalize the “divorce”.
The news came shortly after the Rockets beat the Wizards in their regular-season finale. Silas confirmed he would be meeting with Rockets officials Monday but did not confirm that his time as Houston’s coach was over.
“I feel proud,” Silas said of his time with the Rockets. “I wanted to be a head coach my whole life. I wanted to be like my dad. Proud of these guys, proud of their hard work, proud of their growth and maturity as they got through the season.”
Silas, 49, took over a Rockets team that quickly pivoted into a rebuild after trading franchise superstar James Harden early in Silas’ first season as coach. The Rockets finished 22-60 this season and were 59-117 overall during Silas’ tenure.
It was a difficult season for Silas. His father, longtime NBA player, and coach Paul Silas, died in December.