After a brutal Game 7 loss to the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics’ coaching staff might look significantly different next season. Boston assistant coaches Ben Sullivan, Aaron Miles and Mike Moser are expected to join former Celtics coach Ime Udoka’s Rockets staff this offseason, according to The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.
Udoka coached the Celtics for just the 2021–22 season when he led the team to an NBA Finals appearance, but he was suspended by the team for the entire ’22–23 season for having an “improper intimate and consensual relationship” with a woman on staff. It was later reported that Udoka used crude language with a subordinate before the improper relationship, and that the power dynamic between Udoka and the subordinate in the relationship was a major violation.
This eventually led to his and the Celtics parting ways, leaving the door open for Joe Mazzulla to take over and for Udoka to take the Houston job. With Udoka in the midst of building his staff, it looks like he’ll be looking to surround himself with some familiar faces—and he’ll need all the help he can get.
The Rockets were tied with the Spurs at 22–60 for the worst record in the Western Conference this past season and are in full rebuild mode. The team has several young players with plenty of talent, including Jalen Green, and it also possesses the No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft—giving Udoka a promising roster for the future.
