Ime Udoka pleased by Rockets’ offseason progress, assistant coaching search

With the 2023 NBA draft less than three weeks away, the Houston Rockets will soon have some decisions to make.

Will they keep the No. 4 overall selection in the first round, or will they trade it away? If they keep it, who will they pick?

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Those questions will soon require answers from general manager Rafael Stone, but head coach Ime Udoka will have some input. On Thursday, Udoka took time at Minute Maid Park to give an early assessment of what he has seen from players currently on the roster.

“They’re more impressive than I already knew,” Udoka said of his young core before throwing out a ceremonial first pitch at the Astros’ game. “Obviously, with the interview process, I got to dig in a little bit as far as that, and the guys are really an impressive group.”

Houston hired Udoka on April 26 after former head coach Stephen Silas’ contract was not extended at the end of Houston’s 2022-23 regular season. He met with starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. after his introductory press conference and has had an opportunity to meet with other players during the pre-draft preparation period.

“It’s been great,” Udoka said when asked about the offseason work his players are doing. “I was down in Los Angeles with a lot of those guys, so we had some lunches. I went to the gym and saw Jalen’s (Green) workout. So, it is great that they want to get after it so soon. Obviously, we have been done for over a month now, so for these young guys, it is time to get back in the gym.”

Between preparing for the draft and evaluating players, Udoka has also been busy putting together a coaching staff for the upcoming season. Several names have been reported to join the Rockets, including at least three from Udoka’s former staff with the Celtics, but none have been formally confirmed to this point.

“It is going good,” Udoka said. “I had to wait and be patient on some things. I talked to a lot of high-level candidates. We have some commitments, and then obviously, with some of the guys I brought to Boston, with them finishing up now, I can move along in the process and hopefully bring some of them here, as well.”

“I went to the gym and saw Jalen’s (Green) workout, so it is great that they want to get after it so soon,” Houston Rockets head coach Ime Idoka said about the offseason work his players are putting in. #Rockets #Sarge @TheRocketsWire pic.twitter.com/qVvPIQrsvm

— #SARGE (@BigSargeSportz) June 2, 2023

Udoka was also asked if lead assistant John Lucas would remain with the staff, but he declined to answer. Lucas is currently conducting pre-draft workouts for Houston.

“We’re considering everything,” Udoka said. “I’m looking at the guys that were already here as well as trying to bring some other guys, so we’ll figure that out as time goes.”

Udoka has yet to have much time to get acclimated to being in Houston. But he said he plans to, once the draft is complete.

“For the most part, I have been taking my time,” Udoka said about seeing what the city offers. “I plan to get out and about in the next few weeks.”