HOUSTON — The Rockets made it official Wednesday: Kevin McHale will take over for Rick Adelman, who left the team days after his fourth season in Houston.
McHale spent 15 years with the Timberwolves. The Hall of Famer was let go in 2009 and has recently served as a TV analyst.
“As we explored the opportunity to come to Houston, it felt like the right situation for me,” McHale said. “I enjoy the competitive nature of our game and I am looking forward to getting to work with the very talented roster of players that are already in place here in Houston.”
He will return to coaching for the first time since posting a 20-43 record with the Timberwolves in the 2008-09 season, when he took over after Randy Wittman was fired. McHale also led Minnesota for the last 31 games of the 2004-05 season after he fired Flip Saunders, but he has never coached a full season.
Triano out as Raptors coach
TORONTO — The Raptors announced they will not exercise their option on coach Jay Triano’s contract. He will be retained as a consultant and a special assistant to president and general manager Bryan Colangelo.
Triano guided the Raptors to a record of 87-142 in his three seasons as coach. The search for a new coach will begin immediately and there is no firm deadline in place.
Labor talks underway
MIAMI — Representatives of the league’s owners and players met for about four hours and will get together twice next week in Dallas as they try to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.
Footnotes.
Point guard Ricky Rubio, drafted fifth overall two years ago despite a buyout of his Spanish contract that topped $6 million, agreed to join the Timberwolves next season, ending a two-year negotiation.
• Game 1 of the Miami-Dallas matchup in the NBA Finals generated a 10.7 overnight rating on ABC, the most for an opening game in the league’s title series since 2004.
• The Pistons said the sale of Palace Sports and Entertainment and the Pistons to Tom Gores and his investment firm, Platinum Equity, was formally completed.
The Associated Press
