Why parting ways with Stephen Silas would be best for all parties

On Friday it was reported that Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas will likely be given his walking papers at the conclusion of the Rockets' season. This essentially put an end to a speculation-filled season, in which questions arose regarding Silas's future quite regularly.

Many believe Silas wasn't dealt a fair hand, as the Rockets underwent a complete roster overhaul, which was certainly going to take time and lead to a boatload of losses. It's hard to argue with that premise, as Silas got hired when James Harden and Russell Westbrook were both on the roster, and both players were coming off All-NBA campaigns (which is surely what made the gig enticing for Silas), yet both were traded before the conclusion of Silas's first season at the helm.

Silas's Rockets would go on to have the worst record for two consecutive seasons, with the potential to add the 2022-23 season to the fray, as the Rockets currently sit 20-60 with 2 games left. And while one can sympathize with the lack of talent on the roster, in addition to the abundance of youth on the roster, it's hard not to understand why the Rockets would want to end the Silas experiment. 

Why parting ways with Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas would be best for all parties involved

Silas hadn't given the Rockets reason to want to pick up his option for 2023-24, as there were often questions as it pertained to his rotational decisions, and even more schematic questions, the latter of which are more concerning. Silas also didn't do himself any favors, especially after openly admitting that assistant coaches Mahmoud Abdelfattah and Rick Higgins had been clamoring for the Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr. pick-and-roll, which he had been bottlenecking.

It's well-known that the Rockets want to contend for the postseason or the play-in tournament, at the very least, in 2023-24 and Silas hadn't given the franchise confidence that he could take them there, which is fair. For Silas, this puts an end to a grueling and agonizing stint as head coach, which couldn't have been enjoyable as a first-time head coach, yet should make him proud for how he was able to persevere.

Silas openly discussed his uncertain future with the Rockets prior to the Denver Nuggets game on Wednesday night, and he sounded at peace with his situation being in limbo, which is also fair. It's hard to blame him for being cavalier about the prospect of losing his job, especially when he hadn't even been given any semblance of an update regarding his contract and his coach's option for 2023-24. 

And although Silas has previously stated that he would've still accepted the Rockets' job, even if he had been privy to the fact that Harden and Westbrook would be dealt, this quickly became a job that he didn't sign up for. And before he knew it, he had a hand of cards that he couldn't play, and/or probably didn't want to play.

But at the very least he has the experience now, and the sympathy of many, because of the roster and organizational overhaul that he had to make the most of, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he lands another head coaching gig in the future. At least he shouldn't have to wait another 20 years to get another head coaching opportunity. 

Silas will surely have an abundance of opportunities to be an assistant coach, based on his coaching tenure and his accomplishments prior to landing the Houston job, including spear-heading the 2019-20 Dallas Mavericks to the most efficient offense in NBA history, at the time.

Sometimes it's best to move on, and this decision would be best for all parties. Everyone can move on to bigger and better things, and erase the pain endured during the process.