| News » Reports: Bulls, Knicks to make pitch for D'Antoni 2008-05-07 |
| Reports: Bulls, Knicks to make pitch for D'Antoni 2008-05-07 | |
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 Mike D'Antoni may be close to leaving Phoenix. Both the Bulls and Knicks are working on deals to get the Suns coach out of the Western Conference, according to multiple published reports Wednesday.Big changes in Phoenix? The Bulls and Knicks are in hot pursuit of Mike D'Antoni. Will the Suns coach take his offensive prowess to the Eastern Conference?
News:- Reports: Bulls, Knicks vying for D'Antoni
- Spurs end Suns' season in Game 5
Analysis: - Hill: Suns should keep D'Antoni
- Rosen: Suns' fun-n-gun may be done
- Kahn: End of an era in Phoenix
Other changes:- Report: Carlisle, Mavs close to deal
- Johnson out as Dallas coach |
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D'Antoni has met with both Chicago and New York and is waiting for an offer from either team, which could happen in the next two days, according to a Newsday report citing "a person with knowledge of the situation."
The same source told Newsday that, despite reports to the contrary, D'Antoni has not yet received a formal offer.
The Bulls' roster currently in better shape than New York's is a big selling point for D'Antoni, the Newsday report said, but so is the possibility of working for Knicks president Donnie Walsh, who once wanted D'Antoni to join Isiah Thomas' Pacers staff.
According to his agent, though, D'Antoni has no preference.
"Mike is not leaning one way or the other right now," agent Warren Le Garie told Sports 620 KTAR radio in Phoenix on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Suns granted D'Antoni who has two years and $8.5 million remaining on his contract permission to speak to other clubs about their head coaching vacancies. The Bulls and Knicks quickly responded.
D'Antoni has led the Suns to three Pacific Division titles and two trips to the Western Conference finals in his four full seasons as coach. He has compiled a 232-96 record, including 55-27 last season. But Phoenix has lost three times in the playoffs to San Antonio, including dropping a first-round series in five games to the Spurs this year.
The team had to adjust D'Antoni's full-tilt style to fit the arrival of Shaquille O'Neal, a process that was evolving at season's end. D'Antoni fully supported the trade that sent Shawn Marion to Miami for O'Neal because it was supposed to add interior toughness needed to get past the Spurs.
Instead, Phoenix blew one game, was soundly beaten at home and lost two more close ones against San Antonio. That left D'Antoni's situation in limbo and open to criticism about his short rotation, defensive philosophy and coaching staff.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: May 7, 2008