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Mike D'Antoni and the Houston Rockets parted ways after the franchise's exit from the NBA Playoffs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals, and NBA Trade Rumors haven't ceased since.
Mike D'Antoni coached the Houston Rockets from 2016 in an attempt to build a championship-caliber team. Although they were one of the better teams in the NBA during his tenure, the Houston Rockets just couldn't manage to get over the line as one team or the other was always superior to them.
Regardless of his failure to bring an NBA title to the city of Houston, Mike D'Antoni remains a well-respected coach. He has been a coach for 30 years now and knows the trade as well as anybody else.
Mike D'Antoni's unorthodox approach has also managed to yield satisfactory results, which makes him a hot prospect for teams looking for a head coach.
Let's look at how Mike D'Antoni fits in at the 5 teams with a coaching vacancy, excluding the Houston Rockets.
NBA Trade Rumors: How do these 5 teams fit with Mike D'Antoni's style?
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: Nikola Vucevic would make the Golden State Warriors unstoppable again
#5 Chicago Bulls
After being under pressure from fans to fire Jim Boylen owing to terrible results, the Chicago Bulls finally did so and are back in the market looking for a head coach to steer them back to their glory days.
The Chicago Bulls have a decent young core in Coby White, Daniel Gafford, and Wendell Carter Jr., and are led by a star in Zach LaVine. If they can manage to draft well with the 6th overall pick they have in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Bulls' fans can be excited about the future.
However, Mike D'Antoni simply won't cut it there. D'Antoni's philosophy requires a certain kind of roster that the Chicago Bulls simply don't have at this moment, and they don't have the liberty to make wholesale changes over the off-season.
Philadelphia 76ers assistant Ime Udoka and former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson have featured heavily in NBA trade rumors regarding the Bulls head coach job, and are perhaps better suited.
#4 Oklahoma City Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder had a great season in which they ended up forcing a Game 7 against the Houston Rockets in the NBA Western Conference first round, only to lose out narrowly in the end.
They weren't expected to make the playoffs to begin with, let alone play well in it, and this was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Thunder.
Coach Billy Donovan did a great job with the Oklahoma City Thunder's youngsters and veterans alike. But he was let go by the franchise upon the expiration of his contract - a clear indication that the front office are determined to shake things up.
As a result, Mike D'Antoni is not ideal for them. The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't going to contend any time soon, and while the thought of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander developing under Mike D'Antoni is an interesting one, this just isn't the right time or place for it.
#3 Philadelphia 76ers
A supremely talented set of individuals who just haven't clicked as a unit is the perfect way to define the Philadelphia 76ers. In Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, the 76ers have two of the best players in the NBA, but they haven't worked out together well enough just yet. The current roster that they have isn't the perfect Mike D'Antoni squad by any means, but he could certainly work with it.
D'Antoni should be able to use Al Horford a lot better than Brett Brown could, and Tobias Harris too shall benefit from his arrival and get much easier buckets on the offensive end.
However, just how Mike D'Antoni will figure out the Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid dilemma remains a matter up for debate. Moreover, amidst NBA trade rumors that the 76ers could be open to trading one or both of them, D'Antoni might not be the best choice to fill the vacancy.
#2 New Orleans Pelicans
Albeit similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the sense that they are building for the future, the New Orleans Pelicans are much closer to contending than the Thunder are.
The Pelicans have a number of youngsters who have a very high ceiling, including All-Star Brandon Ingram, expert playmaker Lonzo Ball, and the generational talent Zion Williamson.
On paper, Mike D'Antoni with Zion Williamson seems like a combination that could potentially be deadly. An elite defensive guard like Jrue Holiday would fit in perfectly with the way Mike D'Antoni sets his teams up to play, and a sharpshooter like JJ Redick would balance things nicely.
D'Antoni with the New Orleans Pelicans isn't a bad fit at all, and could be well worth a try.
#1 Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers relieved coach Nate McMillan of his duties after he failed to stop the franchise from getting swept by the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. McMillan had created a deep roster with well-rounded players who played great basketball at times, but the team didn't have enough vigour to go up against the best teams in the NBA.
Still, the current Indiana Pacers team is extremely promising with players like TJ Warren, Domantas Sabonis, Malcolm Brogdon, and Myles Turner, among others.
Turner, in particular, could be great with D'Antoni, as he can space the floor pretty well. He shot over 40% from three while averaging 4 blocks a game in the series against the Miami Heat. Add to that a playmaking forward like Sabonis, and Mike D'Antoni could do wonders with this squad.
We look forward to bringing you more NBA trade rumors regarding Mike D'Antoni's future.
Also Read: NBA Trade Rumors: Detroit Pistons need to demand Kyle Kuzma for Derrick Rose
