Report: Rockets interested in Clippers' Cassell to replace D'Antoni

The Houston Rockets are already looking at Mike D'Antoni's potential successors.

Houston and Los Angeles Clippers assistant Sam Cassell have a mutual interest in one another regarding the former's new coaching vacancy, ESPN's Tim MacMahon reports.

Cassell has been with the Clippers since 2014, joining Doc Rivers' staff after five seasons with the Washington Wizards.

The 50-year-old former point guard also played 15 seasons in the NBA between 1993 and 2008. He began his career with the Rockets and spent three seasons with the franchise that drafted him 24th overall.

Rivers argued recently that his longtime assistant is deserving of a lead coaching role in the league.

"Sam Cassell should be a head coach, period," the Clippers head coach said this week, according to MacMahon. "He's got an incredibly high basketball IQ, and I just hope he gets a shot.

"When they talk about paying dues, he's paid every due that is possible and he's yet to get a job. So, I'm hoping that happens."

The Rockets are searching for a new head coach after D'Antoni unexpectedly informed the franchise he isn't returning for 2020-21 after four seasons at the helm.