Rockets eye McHale

A person familiar with the situation says the Houston Rockets are close to hiring Kevin McHale as their new coach. The person says the team is negotiating a contract with McHale. The person spoke Friday on condition of anonymity. McHale (pictured right) would take over for Rick Adelman, who left the team days after his fourth season in Houston. McHale, a Hall of Fame player for the Boston Celtics, spent 15 years with the Timberwolves in his native Minnesota. He was let go in 2009 and has recently served as a TV analyst. The 53-year-old McHale would become Houston’s third coach since 2003, when Rudy Tomjanovich stepped down for health reasons. Jeff Van Gundy coached the team from 2003-07, taking the Rockets to three playoff appearances. – AP