To make right call on Rockets' coaching hire, GM needs...

So, the owner and general manager have yet to agree on who would be the best choice to be the Rockets' head coach.

According to a report from Chronicle Rockets beat writer Jonathan Feigen, their decision is down to two contenders: Stephen Silas with Lionel Hollins as an assistant or Mike D'Antoni with Jeff Bzdelik as his assistant.

This is an interesting situation.

Silas' potential genius vs. D'Antoni's experience.

Leslie Alexander and Daryl Morey, the owner and the GM, haven't always been on the same page in their 10 years working together.

But they quite often agree, and they always come to a strong understanding, publicly at least.

Theirs has been a solid partnership.

Alexander's hard-driving desire to win and Morey's analytics have yet to produce a championship run, but the combination has at least kept the Rockets from falling off the map.

Now their working relationship faces a major test.

This decision is more challenging than their previous two coaching searches, which resulted in the hirings of Rick Adelman and Kevin McHale. And it comes in the most important offseason Morey has had.

The guess is his after-season performance review, following the Rockets' disappointing 41-41 season, took longer than ever.

Alexander entered the season with a team he expected to challenge for a championship. During the season, he had to buy his way out of contracts with his head coach and top free-agent acquisition.

Alexander doesn't like to lose. Games or money.

Behind the scenes

As for the head coach search, this is a debate the general manager needs to win.

Not because Silas, who is reportedly Morey's top pick, has the potential to be an exceptional head coach, or because, according to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State is interested in hiring him as its top assistant.

You don't want a head coach working for a GM who preferred to hire someone else, or worse, a situation with a head coach who believes he has the owner's protection, thus as much or more power than the GM.

Presuming a soap opera will break out at Toyota Center might sound unfair to the professionals involved, but behind-the-scenes soap operas can often be more entertaining than on-the-court basketball.

Have you seen some of the things Dwight Howard has been saying of late?

In an interview with ESPN's Jackie MacMullan, he admitted to checking out at times during the season because, well, he didn't feel loved.

"There were times I was disinterested because of situations that happened behind the scenes that really hurt me," Howard said. "It left me thinking, 'This is not what I signed up for.'

His words make a recent Chronicle's headline "Dwight Howard's latest vanishing act inexplicable" a lot more dead-on than many of you thought.

More Howard: "I felt like my role was being reduced. I went to Daryl and said, 'I want to be more involved.' Daryl said, 'No, we don't want you to be.' "

Before you criticize Howard for crying, I suggest you visit a maternity ward. Babies cry. Duh.

Handling Howard was Morey's job. He failed.

Morey isn't known for his ability to handle players. Which is another reason Silas would seem like a good fit for the Rockets.

A player's coach

This team needs a coach who can relate and motivate.

D'Antoni, who has 12 years of head coaching experience, might be able to get the job done, but the reviews Silas has received as an assistant with five NBA teams make him the more intriguing choice.

Silas could match what D'Antoni could do with James Harden's offensive genius, but he also could return the Rockets' star to the fully engaged man on a mission he was in 2014-15.

In his last year with the Warriors, Silas worked closely with a little-known undrafted point guard named Jeremy Lin and a better-known rookie who is now a two-time MVP in Stephen Curry. He worked diligently to help Lin change his shooting mechanics. Lin might not have made it in the NBA without the adjustment.

And back when many thought Curry was too small and too fragile, Silas told anyone who asked that Curry would be an All-Star.

Have you seen the fancy dribbling exhibition Curry puts on before each game? Silas taught him that.

I'd love to see what Silas could get out of Harden.

Surely, that is what Morey is thinking.

Of course, the owner has the money. But if he believes he has the right GM, he should allow Morey to make the call.