Kerr denies report of D'Antoni's departure
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/2008/04/30/20080430dantoni.html
SAN ANTONIO - Nothing but the playoff losses has intensified the talk about Suns coach Mike D'Antoni's job.
There has been no recent discord between him and the front office, other than the lack of a full vote of confidence from management.
A report on sportsillustrated.com posted late Tuesday night says Mike D'Antoni will not return as coach.
But Suns General Manager Steve Kerr denied that report early Wednesday.
"There's no truth to that," Kerr said. "I asked Mike when the story came out and he denied it. Mike's our coach and has done a great job for four years. We'll get together soon and talk about where this team can go from here."
With two years and $8.5 million left on his contract, D'Antoni is unlikely to be fired. If he returns, it could be with concessions to change. But there is also the possibility that he leaves of his own accord, especially with a perceived lack of support - and interest from New York and Chicago, both of which have vacancies. There is also the chance Toronto President Bryan Colangelo fired Sam Mitchell to hire the coach he brought to Phoenix from Italy.
An article in this week's Sports Illustrated will fan the flames. It paints a picture of a divide between the coaching staff and front office staff. It talks about D'Antoni resenting Suns General Manager Steve Kerr working out of San Diego and taking perceived shots at him in the press, and that Kerr thinks D'Antoni is too stubborn to accept Kerr's suggestions, whether it be in strategy or personnel use.
Sources confirmed an SI anecdote that Kerr and D'Antoni had an early November argument in which Kerr suggested that the Suns feature post-up plays for Amaré Stoudemire more often. That incited D'Antoni, who set off a shouting match that included him saying, "Don't tell me how to coach offense."
Since then, Kerr has expressed public support for D'Antoni, who has also been complimentary of Kerr, especially when Kerr changed his mind to be on board with trading for Shaquille O'Neal after initial reservations.
As D'Antoni came under fire the past week, Kerr would say only that evaluations would be made after the season while D'Antoni became obviously irritated with the ordeal.
A postseason meeting between D'Antoni and the front office will settle the direction the Suns front office and D'Antoni want to take.