Tyronn Lue must be on Rockets' radar as potential Ime Udoka replacement

The Rockets need an infusion of offensive creativity to reach their highest potential, especially after committing to Amen Thompson on a long-term deal. Houston hopes that Thompson can reach a new level offensively, but that could be hard to do under current coach Ime Udoka. If the Rockets decide to find a new coach, they should be looking intently at current Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.

The Rockets need to see more from their head coach

For the last two seasons, the Rockets have experienced surprising regular season success but flamed out in the first round of the playoffs. Their coaching is arguably a big culprit of both sides of that equation. Udoka has done a great job establishing a strong foundation that can churn out regular season wins with different rosters and even injuries to key players.

But Udoka's weaknesses have also come back to bite the Rockets in the postseason. He's never been the most offensively creative coach. In Houston, that's shown in his inability to maximize specialized offensive skills on the roster, such as Reed Sheppard's deep shooting or Alperen Sengun's playmaking out of the post.

Now that the Rockets are entering into rookie extensions with their biggest young stars and still employ Kevin Durant, they should be laser-focused on playoff competitiveness as the only relevant measure of success. Regardless of how the Rockets' roster shapes out in coming years, they are firmly past the rebuilding stage.

Houston could have a chance to poach Lue from LA

After the NBA announced recent punishments against the Clippers for a cap circumvention scheme, they’re unlikely to contend for a title anytime soon. That leaves Lue in an awkward spot, since he’s clearly a championship caliber coach. He’s already earned an improbable title in his first year as a head coach and shown continued brilliance during his time with the Clippers too.

If he’s looking to move on to a more competitive team, the Rockets are a great destination. Unlike many of the most talented rosters around the league, they still have clear questions about their head coach. And Lue’s strengths lie exactly where Udoka has fallen short in Houston.

Lue has earned his reputation as a strong coach with his creative offense and smart playoff adjustments. The Rockets sorely need both of those attributes on their bench and should be willing to pay Lue handsomely for them. They can also offer him a further opportunity to cement his legacy and have a long shot at winning another improbable championship.

Even without recent events, Lue would’ve been an ideal candidate for the Rockets. But the Clippers have likely handed him on a silver platter to teams in need through their own schemes.

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