Rick Adelman's contract with the Houston Rockets will not be renewed, reports Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Adelman's four-year deal expired at the end of the 2010-11 season, and the Rockets nor the coach would commit to a return effort next year. The Rockets went 43-39 this season despite missing Yao Ming for all but five games.
Rick Adelman Let Go By Rockets, Says Report; Coach’s Contract Won’t Be Renewed
This would be the third time that Adelman will be pushed out of a job after a winning season. Adelman was let go by the Blazers in 1994 after a 47-35 season; his Portland tenure including two trips to the NBA Finals, both losses (to the Pistons and Bulls). In 2005-06, the Kings refused to renew Adelman's contract after an unprecedent run of eight playoff appearances for previously moribund Sacramento. The Kings went 44-38 that season after a midseason trade for Ron Artest sparked the team; Adelman would later coach Artest in Houston.
The Rockets made the playoffs in Adelman's first two seasons in Houston, but injuries plagued the team in these past two seasons. Yao didn't play at all in 2009-10 after breaking his foot in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Tracy McGrady played limited minutes in '09-10 before being included in a trade for Kevin Martin.
Adelman's staff includes Elston Turner, a longtime defensive-minded assistant who has interviewed for a number of head coach jobs in recent years. Adelman is considered an offensive-minded coach, and he does run one beautiful offense.
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