Rockets on Wednesday also interviewed Houston resi

Houston Rockets officials will interview Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey Thursday night in Dallas about their coaching vacancy, according to sources close to the process.The interview was arranged, with the Mavericks' consent, before Dallas took a 2-0 series lead over the Los Angeles Lakers with a Game 2 win in L.A. on Wednesday night.The Rockets formally requested permission to interview Casey on April 21. The Mavericks granted permission, but told the Rockets that they'd like to delay the interview until after Dallas' first-round series with Portland so as not to disrupt the team's playoff preparations.Houston Rockets Jerseys The Rockets have already interviewed a number of coaches as part of a broad search to replace Rick Adelman.But sources told ESPN.com that Casey is among the top candidates on Houston's list after his brief stint as Minnesota's head coach in 2005-06 and 2006-07 and a successful run as Rick Carlisle's defensive coordinator in Dallas.
The 54-year-old Casey has been waiting for second shot at a top job since being dismissed by Minnesota with a record of 20-20 during the 2006-07 season. He narrowly missed out on coaching jobs last summer with the Atlanta Hawks and Los Angeles Clippers and ranks as one of the league's most highly rated assistants."I'm shocked that we still have him here. He's that good," Carlisle said. "That situation will be addressed at the right time,Cheap NFL Dallas Cowboys Jerseys, but my level of respect for Dwane and what he's brought our team is extremely high."Casey will become the fourth former NBA head coach that the Rockets have interviewed. The club has also met with former Hawks coach Mike Woodson and Boston Celtics assistant coach Lawrence Frank, who joined the Celtics after nearly seven seasons coaching the New Jersey Nets.Houston also met with Pacers interim coach Frank Vogel Thursday, according to a report from KRIV-TV in Houston. Vogel coached the Pacers' final 44 games after Jim O'Brien was fired, helping Indiana reach the playoffs for the first time since 2005-06.
The Rockets on Wednesday also interviewed Houston resident John Lucas -- who's had coaching stints with San Antonio, Philadelphia and Cleveland -- and still plan to interview TNT analyst Kevin McHale, who hired and fired Casey as the Timberwolves' GM and later moved to the Wolves' bench.NBA Jerseys From ChinaThe Houston Chronicle reported this week that the Rockets, having vowed to speak with numerous candidates before making their choice, have likewise completed interviews with the following NBA assistant coaches: Milwaukee's Kelvin Sampson, Sacramento's Mario Elie, Houston's Jack Sikma and Washington's Sam Cassell, another former Rocket. Other candidates from the assistant ranks believed to interest Houston include New Orleans' Michael Malone, San Antonio's Mike Budenholzer and the Lakers' Brian Shaw.