ESPN Sportscenter: D'Antoni to talk with Bulls and Knicks

[TJ]

just heard it....

initially reported by KTAR

 

[Andrew]

Yeah I just heard it too...

 

[Darth Llama]

So, he's tired of losing in the playoffs so he's thinking of taking over a team that can't make the playoffs?

I guess that's one way to go.

Bulls maybe, but if he leaves the Suns for the Knicks, he's ********.

 

[Haren]

Should Mike D'Antoni leave, Vinny Del Negro had better not be his replacement!

 

[Andrew]

Suns grant D'Antoni permission to speak with other teams



Suns coach Mike D'Antoni has been granted permission to speak with NBA teams, including the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks, according to Sports 620 KTAR's Paul Calvisi.
D'Antoni was previously denied permission to speak with any team, Suns GM Steve Kerr told KTAR last week.
Kerr and owner Robert Sarver met with D'Antoni for a lunch meeting on Friday to discuss his future with Phoenix, but it was reported a decision would not be made until later in the week.
ESPN.com reported Friday that Chicago has emerged as the most likely landing spot for D'Antoni if he leaves Phoenix.
Bulls management contacted D'Antoni's agent last week, according to sources close to the subject.
D'Antoni, who has two years and $8.5 million left on his contract, would likely have to resign if he departed for Chicago. Kerr told ESPN.com on Thursday that recent suggestions he would be a candidate to replace D'Antoni are completely untrue, reiterating his long-held stance that he wouldn't even consider coaching until his children are out of school.

http://www.ktar.com/sports/?nid=21&sid=827069

 

[LV-Suns]

http://www.ktar.com/sports/?nid=21&sid=827069

nvm. Looks like Andrew posted it already.

 

[Andrew]

I just think he is weighing his options. I mean really, he comes of sane enough to not leave the Suns for the Bulls or Knicks...

 

[Andrew]

So, he's tired of losing in the playoffs so he's thinking of taking over a team that can't make the playoffs?

I guess that's one way to go.

Bulls maybe, but if he leaves the Suns for the Knicks, he's ********.

I can see the possibility for the Bulls, since they are young and athletic and in the EAST, but the Knicks....that's a big dud.

 

[da_suns_fan]

The Knicks have no shot. That would NOT be good for Mike.

The best situation for him would be Toronto or here.

 

[Andrew]

Toronto is content with Sam Mitchell, they DO make the playoffs regularly after being a joke just a few seasons ago...

 

[Haren]

It's kind of hard to tell whether this means he'll be going somewhere else or if he'll remain the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. If you're asking me, though, I think he's gone. The fact that Steve Kerr wouldn't let anybody talk to him until now suggests that they're going to part ways, unless they're just simply weighing his options like Andrew said.

 

[Andrew]

Yeah I mean, it really just comes down to, which team he feels better suits his coaching style.

Personally, I think he stays, he is just assessing the situation.

Maybe he is doing what players do, wiggle around and act like you want to leave and see how much a team offers you to see what you are worth to someone else.

 

[Gaddabout]

If the Suns were being properly managed, they would just let D'Antoni go now. If he comes back, he has all the power in that relationship because Kerr subjugated his own authority by not sticking to his guns. If Sarver is playing go between, then Sarver is subjugating Kerr's authority as GM. Either way, if D'Antoni returns, Sarver and Kerr might as well stay in San Diego next season. They won't have a say unless they fire him mid-season, and then it really looks bad for them (who will want to be their coach after this).

 

[CaptainInsano]

This is EXACTLY, as in textbook EXACTLY how we lost Bryan Colangelo and Marc Iavaroni.

The "permission" line is basically sarvers lying to the fans, spin way of saying "talks broke down and I told (insert name here) to take a hike".

D'antoni is gone.

 

[LV-Suns]

who will want to be their coach after this.

Someone who wants $9 mil for the next 2 years.

 

[TheHopToad]

I'm guessing this decision came out of the Friday meeting. Sarver is too cheap to fire D'Antoni, and Mike is too stubborn to quit and leave that money on the table without some assurance that he will have one of the other open jobs.

I suspect that if he is offered the job with the Bulls, or perhaps even the Knicks, then he will take it and both sides will be happy.

The Bulls job is a much better fit for him, but the Knicks job has a bigger payoff should he succeed. He can't really do any worse than Isiah did and if he gets improvement from that team it will solidify his reputation as a very good NBA head coach. If he gets them to the playoffs anytime soon, he will be hailed as a god and get a positive boost by the New York media.

 

[scXfreakX]

Well, this pretty much means "Goodbye D'Antoni." Kinda surprised Kerr did this so soon.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

This is EXACTLY, as in textbook EXACTLY how we lost Bryan Colangelo and Marc Iavaroni.

The "permission" line is basically sarvers lying to the fans, spin way of saying "talks broke down and I told (insert name here) to take a hike".

D'antoni is gone.

Probably right, the meetings were damage control and spin, Suns for the most part will buy anything because they are so starved for a title they have no choice but to hope the Suns are really doing whatever they can.

Sarver and is other partners know for the most part they can put out some catchy new phrase and a black alternate uniform and most suns fans will be tickled.

 

[Gaddabout]

Someone who wants $9 mil for the next 2 years.

And you want that man to be Alvin Gentry? There are plenty of guys who will take the job for the money and access to a talented roster, but allow me to rephrase the question:

Which coach with championship experience will want the job?

I'm sure Gentry could get 50+ wins out of the team, but I was thinking if they're going to push out the most successful coach in Suns history, it was because they had their eyes on a coach who brought something more formidable to the table. If they don't have a plan, and it doesn't look like they do, there's not enough money on the table to overcome management's growing lack of credibility. The whole thing looks petty and amateurish.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Good riddance. Hopefully it will take Mike 7 seconds or less to get the hell out of town.

 

[arwillan]

i would be happy to wish him away to chicago. please let him go, let chicago fans feel some disappointment!

 

[Darth Llama]

i would be happy to wish him away to chicago. please let him go, let chicago fans feel some disappointment!

He'll have Chicago in the playoffs within 2 years.


They just won't get out of the first round.

 

[Big Deal]

Someone who wants $9 mil for the next 2 years.

How absurd that you think Sarver is going to pay someone else that money. That cheap b just sees this as another way to save a buck. If we lose MD I bet we get stuck with some yes man UA nerd like O'neil.....for a third the cost.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

How absurd that you think Sarver is going to pay someone else that money. That cheap b just sees this as another way to save a buck. If we lose MD I bet we get stuck with some yes man UA nerd like O'neil.....for a third the cost.

I will root against the Suns if he brings in that AU trash, even though I am an ASU fan, I have massive respect for Lute Olson, I have ZERO respect for Kevin O'Neil, none, he is trash.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

And you want that man to be Alvin Gentry? There are plenty of guys who will take the job for the money and access to a talented roster, but allow me to rephrase the question:

Which coach with championship experience will want the job?

I'm sure Gentry could get 50+ wins out of the team, but I was thinking if they're going to push out the most successful coach in Suns history, it was because they had their eyes on a coach who brought something more formidable to the table. If they don't have a plan, and it doesn't look like they do, there's not enough money on the table to overcome management's growing lack of credibility. The whole thing looks petty and amateurish.

Prediction, whether it is in title or not Kerr will be the coach of the team, he will put a puppet in place here and rule from San Diego. Kerr will be calling the shots and Gentry, Weber, Del Negro etc...will be filling out lineup cards.