The Houston Rockets interviewed Jeff Hornacek and Kenny Smith for their vacant head-coaching position Tuesday, according to a source.
Houston has interviewed seven candidates for the position, and more interviews are expected.
Hornacek, who played for three NBA teams during his 15-year career, coached the past three seasons with the Phoenix Suns before getting fired after 49 games this season. He compiled a 101-112 record with the Suns.
Smith, who currently is an analyst for TNT, won two NBA titles as a player with the Rockets in the 1990s and has a good relationship with owner Leslie Alexander. Smith hasn't been a head coach at the professional or college level, but wouldn't be the first candidate with a limited coaching background to be hired by an NBA team. Jason Kidd and Derek Fisher were hired as coaches with no previous coaching experience.
Fisher was fired after less than two seasons with the New York Knicks. Kidd is coaching his second NBA team, the Milwaukee Bucks, after a one-season stint with the Brooklyn Nets.
Houston general manager Daryl Morey said after the season that he would conduct a thorough search to find a replacement for Kevin McHale, who was fired 11 games into the season.
So far, the Rockets have interviewed David Blatt, Sam Cassell, Chris Finch, Mike D'Antoni, J.B. Bickerstaff, Hornacek and Smith. Bickerstaff pulled his name from consideration for the position last week.
The team has plans to interview Charlotte assistant coach Steven Silas and also has interest in Frank Vogel, who was fired last week as Pacers head coach.
