Sources: Mike D'Antoni interviews with Rockets; J.B. Bickerstaff backs out

— -- Veteran NBA head coach Mike D'Antoni was in Houston this week interviewing for the Houston Rockets' vacant coaching position, ESPN.com has learned.

Sources told ESPN.com that D'Antoni, currently associate head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, spent Wednesday in Houston on Wednesday after the Rockets secured permission from the Sixers to speak with him.

The Rockets are just beginning what they intend to be a broad, deliberate search to finding a new head coach, not unlike the approach taken concurrently by the Sacramento Kings.

Sources confirmed Wednesday to ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins that Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff, after posting a 37-34 record upon succeeding Kevin McHale and helping Houston rally into a playoff spot despite its season-long defensive struggles, has withdrawn from consideration after interviewing Monday with team officials.

Sources say that former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy remains a candidate of prime interest, with Houston also known to have strong interest in Indiana Pacers coach Frank Vogel if Vogel, as many around the league increasingly expect, is let go by the Pacers this week. The Rockets interviewed Vogel for the job in 2011 before ultimately hiring Kevin McHale.

The Rockets have already interviewed Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell and current Houston assistant Chris Finch for the position, sources said, confirming an earlier report from The Vertical.

Sources tell ESPN.com that TNT's Kenny Smith, another former Rocket like Cassell, could also land an interview, since Rockets owner Leslie Alexander remains close to many players from the team's highly successful Clutch City era that delivered two championships and holds them in high esteem.

The Rockets, furthermore, are known to be intrigued by Texas' Shaka Smart and Kansas' Bill Self from the college ranks, but sources stressed Wednesday that Houston is focusing its search on proven NBA head coaches and rising assistants.

Bickerstaff withdrew his name from consideration when it became apparent that the Rockets were going in a different direction, but sources told Watkins that Houston has interest in retaining Bickerstaff in a front-office role.

Sources say, though, that Bickerstaff is expected to stay in coaching and pursue bench opportunities with other teams.

The Rockets fired McHale just 11 games into the season in what was the first season of a new three-year deal. Houston ultimately lost to the reigning champions from Golden State in five games in the first round of the playoffs, having slipped well off the standard it set in 2014-15 when the club won 56 games and reached the Western Conference finals.

The only teams that currently have coaching vacancies are the Rockets, Kings and New York Knicks.