HoopsHype.com Rumors

Great Britain’s men are set to find out their new coach next week, with Cleveland Cavaliers assistant Joe Prunty to be named in charge, according to sources in the NBA. MVP has learnt that final contractual arrangements are likely to be signed off following Easter Weekend to name a successor to Chris Finch, following an extensive recruitment process arranged, somewhat controversially, by an external agency. MVP 24/7

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Joe Prunty, Great Britain, Chris Finch 

News of Prunty’s impending appointment was met with shock by a number of current internationals who had expected someone with prior working knowledge of international basketball to take charge. “I cant believe we are considering an NBA guy with no European experience,” said one member of the 2012 Olympic team, speaking to MVP on condition of anonymity. “I was hoping for a Euro coach that would teach the guys not just compete. That really is disappointing. I thought for sure they would want a fresh start and create a more European-style team.” MVP 24/7

Cleveland Cavaliers, Coaching, Joe Prunty, Great Britain, Chris Finch 

Ian Whittell: Chris Finch: "I have things in the States I need 2 concentrate on. I've enjoyed it and I'd like to stay involved in some capacity but I'm not sure what my future commitments will allow ... " Lets hope he can sign off with a W in the BBL derby v Bob Donewald and China. Twitter

Coaching, Russia, Great Britain, Olympics, David Blatt, Chris Finch 

Ian Whittell: not official yet but expect tomorrow to be Chris Finch's last game as GB coach. Decision taken long before last nights disaster. wants to concentrate on NBA career. an amazing 7 years in charge of GB and has done an unreservedly fantastic job. last night doesnt alter that Twitter

Coaching, Great Britain, Olympics, Chris Finch 

Ian Whittell: GB coach Chris Finch: "We have an NBA player too. Hes trying 2 get to the bucket, people are holding him, jumping him, riding him 2 the hoop. I don't think he's getting the respect he deserves for his All Star level of play. Luols a very nice guy, sometimes too nice. I was happy to see him angry tonight because he needs to be angry. He deserves more respect." Twitter

Spain, Great Britain, Olympics, Chris Finch, Daniel Clark 

The London-born shooting guard – who has just been traded from Detroit Pistons to the Charlotte Bobcats – was due to finally commit to Great Britain in time for London 2012 after a protracted four-year effort to get him on board. But after failing to show at the team’s training camp which closed in Houston on Saturday night, coach Chris Finch has been forced to name a squad without him. GB Basketball performance director Chris Spice said: “We kept the door open as long as we could. “We had been in correspondence with his people, and one day he was in, one day he was out. He felt he couldn’t commit. We are where we are and now we focus on the guys we have here.” Manchester Evening News

Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon, Great Britain, Chris Finch 

Coach Chris Finch included Gordon in the provisional squad in April and was hopeful he would arrive at the Houston Rockets practice facilities for camp. He never showed. TalkBasket

Ben Gordon, Great Britain, Olympics, Chris Finch 

Great Britain coach Chris Finch won't have Byron Mullens at the London Games and is still waiting to discover if another NBA player, Ben Gordon, will play. Mullens, an American, qualified for and received his British passport earlier this year because his mother hails from England. He has never feature with Britain in an international competition. The same can be said for Gordon, who was born in London but grew up in the United States. FIBA.com

Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon, Great Britain, Olympics, BJ Mullens, Chris Finch 

The Detroit Pistons guard is being non-committal about the Olympic squad, citing the need to rest after the NBA season. "We are never in a position to give ultimatums," Great Britain coach Chris Finch said to the Telegraph. "We are going to give Ben all of next week to let us know what his intentions are and then we will map out whether we go forward with him or without him but there comes a point when we have to move forward and make the best decision for the team." FIBA.com

Detroit Pistons, Ben Gordon, Great Britain, Olympics, BJ Mullens, Chris Finch 

The original plan was for Chris Finch to see the world as a member of the Washington Generals. So maybe it's fitting that a winding path as a globetrotter brought him to the NBA. Rather than a career of buckets of confetti, uniform pants pulled down, yo-yo basketballs on rubber band strings and various other pranks, Finch went the, uh, conventional route of playing overseas, then coaching four different teams in three different countries and spending two seasons in the NBA Development League before landing a spot on Kevin McHale's Rockets staff. "But it's been fun, both a basketball and cultural experience that I never thought about when I left college and wanted to be a coach," said Finch, 41. "I guess I took the long road." NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Chris Finch 

Finch guided the Vipers to the D-League finals in each of his two seasons -- winning the championship in 2010 -- and so impressed Rockets general manager Daryl Morey that he wanted to add him to Rick Adelman's staff at the end of last season. When Adelman and the Rockets parted ways, he eventually became a candidate for McHale's staff. "I liked a lot of the ideas Chris brought to the table and felt comfortable with him right away," McHale said. "I definitely have my ideas about what I think makes a team success in the NBA. But you want guys with a fresh outlook, guys who can adapt. And I'll tell you, nobody has to adapt more than those coaches in the D-League." NBA.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Chris Finch 

The Houston Rockets have officially announced the additions of four assistants to Kevin McHale's staff, including former college coach Kelvin Sampson. McHale was hired June 1 to replace Rick Adelman. J.B. Bickerstaff, Chris Finch and Brett Gunning will join the staff, along with Sampson, who will serve as McHale's lead assistant. Sampson has worked as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks for the past three seasons. Bickerstaff, the son of former NBA head coach Bernie Bickerstaff, has been an assistant in Minnesota since 2007. ESPN.com

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff, Brett Gunning 

The Rockets made Kevin McHale's coaching staff selections official on Friday, with Kelvin Sampson named his lead assistant. J.B. Bickerstaff was hired as an assistant coach with Rockets director of player development Brett Gunning promoted to an assistant coach position. Chris Finch had been promoted from the head coaching position with the Rockets NBA Development League team and worked with the Rockets prior to the draft and with players following the draft. Sampson had been an assistant with the Bucks for three seasons and Bickerstaff had been an assistant with the Timberwolves for four seasons, including during McHale's second stint as Timberwolves coach. "I'm thrilled to have these men on my coaching staff," McHale said in a statement. "We are fortunate to have a very qualified and well-respected group of coaches on staff who will be committed to winning and helping our players reach their full potential. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff, Brett Gunning 

Rockets coach Kevin McHale filled out much of his coaching staff on Tuesday, reaching agreement in principle with Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson to be lead assistant and with J.B. Bickerstaff to join Chris Finch as assistant coaches, a person with knowledge of the decision said on Tuesday. Sampson, the former Oklahoma and Indiana coach who was one of the first coaches interviewed for the Rockets’ head coaching position, was expected to be a considered for the head coaching job with the Pistons and Bucks. Sampson declined to comment on the decision or his interest in the assistant coaching position on Tuesday, but he did say he learned a great deal about the Rockets’ organization in his 14-hour interview for the head coaching position, comparing it to taking the ACT and SAT back-to-back. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff 

Jonathan Feigen: Rockets reached agreement w Bucks' Kelvin Sampson to be lead assistant under Kevin McHale, per source. Chris Finch already on staff.#hounews Twitter

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch 

Rockets coach Kevin McHale filled out much of his coaching staff on Tuesday, reaching agreement in principle with Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson to be lead assistant and with J.B. Bickerstaff to join Chris Finch as assistant coaches, a person with knowledge of the decision said on Tuesday. Sampson, the former Oklahoma and Indiana coach who was one of the first coaches interviewed for the Rockets’ head coaching position, was expected to be a considered for the head coaching job with the Pistons and Bucks. Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff 

Sampson declined to comment on the decision or his interest in the assistant coaching position on Tuesday, but he did say he learned a great deal about the Rockets’ organization in his 14-hour interview for the head coaching position, comparing it to taking the ACT and SAT back-to-back. “When you go through something like that, you learn a lot about the organization and about yourself too,” Sampson said. “It was good. It was an interesting process. Those guys have a very good idea what they’re looking for. A huge part of being head coach in NBA is being prepared. Part of the process is preparation.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff 

Marc J. Spears: Wolves assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff has accepted a similar position with the Rockets. Agreed to accept job prior to Kurt Rambis' firing. Twitter

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff 

Jon Krawczynski: Confirmed from 2 sources JB Bickerstaff has accepted a position with Rockets. I'd be surprised if Wolves don't try to change his mind. Twitter

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Kelvin Sampson, Chris Finch, JB Bickerstaff 

McHale may very well be the Rockets' bridge to the next era. The team hired former Rio Grande Valley Vipers coach Chris Finch as an assistant on McHale's staff and there is speculation that Finch will be groomed as McHale's successor and the eventual long-term coach. If Finch is, indeed, the coach-in-waiting, McHale is fine with it. "I like Chris from the time I've spent with him," McHale said. "I've gotta do my job. I'm not worried about anybody else's job. I better be worried about my job and doing the best job I can." FOXSports Houston

Houston Rockets, Coaching, Kevin McHale, Chris Finch