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

[D-Dogg]

Interesting they are NOW letting him talk to teams after the Dallas job is out of the equation.

Too bad, he'd have further ruined the Dallas franchise.

 

[Griffin]

I think this whole situation is just ridiculous. The Suns management is basically saying that D'Antoni is not the right guy anymore to take this team to the next level, yet they won't fire him because that would cost too much money. Personally, I don't believe that a coaching change is going to change anything, regardless of who the new coach might be. But, if Sarver and Kerr truly believe they need a new coach to win a title (why else push D'Antoni out?), then by refusing to fire him they are once again proving to everyone that money is more important than a championship (if the KT trade wasn't proof enough).

 

[cly2tw]

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).

If DA comes back, they might as well trade Amare before it's too late or he opts out in two years.

 

[CaptainInsano]

It is great that they took so long to do this, it only pretty much completely screwed us out of the Carlisle sweepstakes. Larry Brown is also gone. Who the hell is going to come in and teach this team how to at least play decent defense and teach them some discipline mostly in keeping focus throughout games and how to not constantly make stupid mistakes?

Massive kudos to sarver for once again completely dropping the ball! Way to take your time, sarver!

 

[Covert Rain]

Mike is done. You can't grant permission for him to speak to other teams the later say "your our guy".

 

[mojorizen7]

IMO the SUNS will hire a GENTRY/DEL NEGRO type and start the 2 yr plan & position themselves for the '2011 season. If so....then more cost cutting moves may be coming. I don't think the plan is to retool,but rather to rebuild.
We'll see, but if D'Antoni goes....i believe Nash will be next followed by shopping Barbosa/Diaw for junk. If the FO does decide to blow this thing up...i pray that they begin to make moves now that make dollars and cents for a few yrs down the road..... and also try to get some younger bodies in here in the next 2 yrs.

 

[mojorizen7]

Mike is done. You can't grant permission for him to speak to other teams the later say "your our guy".

Yup.

 

[Andrew]

Suns reportedly let D'Antoni talk to other teams

The signals suggesting that Mike D'Antoni and the Phoenix Suns will soon part company are only getting stronger.
The loudest hint yet that a divorce is forthcoming came Sunday night when KTAR Radio (620 AM) in Phoenix reported that D'Antoni has suddenly been granted permission to speak with other teams, including Chicago and New York, about their coaching openings.
Suns president Steve Kerr told the ESPN Radio affiliate and Suns flagship station last week that D'Antoni would not be allowed to speak to other teams regarding any vacancy.

NBA coaching sources reiteratated to ESPN.com again Sunday that D'Antoni feels he can't work under the conditions proposed by Kerr and owner Robert Sarver.

So if even Suns management is now convinced that reconciling with its coach is no longer possible, giving D'Antoni an opportunity to find a new job might be the easiest way for Phoenix to move forward without worrying about the two years and $8.5 million left on his contract. As opposed to firing D'Antoni and paying the full amount or trying to work out a buyout, allowing him to land a new job and thus a new salary would offset whatever the Suns owe him.

D'Antoni met with Sarver and Kerr for more than two hours Friday, with Kerr saying afterward that they all wanted to take a few days to digest what was discussed. Kerr stuck to his earlier pledge that he and Sarver remained hopeful of convincing D'Antoni that the parties' philosophical differences could be resolved.

But sources close to the situation have maintained for days that D'Antoni does not want to continue coaching in Phoenix if he must implement the changes suggested by his bosses, which include increasing the time spent practicing defense and a more stern approach with younger players such as Suns forward Amare Stoudemire and guard Leandro Barbosa.

ESPN.com reported last week that Chicago has emerged as the most likely landing spot for D'Antoni if he leaves Phoenix. The Bulls also want to interview recently fired Dallas coach Avery Johnson and have already spoken to Mark Jackson and Rick Carlisle, but Johnson would appear to be D'Antoni's only serious competition with the Bulls given Jackson's status as the consensus favorite with the Knicks and Carlisle now widely expected to replace Johnson with the Mavericks.

It's not inconceivable that Toronto could still emerge as an option for D'Antoni, although Raptors president Bryan Colangelo -- who imported D'Antoni from Italy in 2003 to coach in Phoenix -- has insisted that he has no plans to fire Sam Mitchell. If the Raptors were to change that stance so they can enter the D'Antoni sweepstakes, they would have to be considered a serious threat to land him given the Colangelo connection and personnel -- specifically an array of 3-point shooters around mobile big man Chris Bosh -- that would appear to be ideal for D'Antoni.

Identifying potential replacements in Phoenix for D'Antoni is a lot tougher. ESPN.com reported last week that Johnson has already been ruled out as a possibility for Phoenix. Kerr, furthermore, strongly dismissed recent suggestions that he would be a candidate to move to the bench, reiterating his long-held stance that he wouldn't even consider coaching until his children are out of school. TNT analyst Doug Collins, who resides in the Phoenix area, is bound to be mentioned as well, although it's unknown whether Collins can be lured back to coaching at age 56 after turning down offers from Milwaukee in the summer of 2005 and again last month.

Sources say that the philosophical split between D'Antoni and his bosses breaks down thusly:

• D'Antoni considers Kerr's strategic suggestions to be meddlesome and excessive after the Suns averaged 57 wins over the past four seasons, three of which ended with playoff losses to the execution masters from San Antonio.



• But sources say Suns management and some veteran players, while all hopeful that D'Antoni will stay, want more emphasis placed on defensive preparations and want to see the likes of Stoudemire and Barbosa held more accountable for their mistakes.
Sports Illustrated's Jack McCallum -- who spent the 2005-06 season as a virtual member of D'Antoni's coaching staff to write the acclaimed book "Seven Seconds or Less" -- reported last week that D'Antoni considers those differences to be "irredeemable."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3381686

 

[Bufalay]

lol @ "D'antoni Sweepstakes"

 

[Billy Bob]

Everything on this thread comes from an espn.
I don't believe anything espn says until after the facts.

Why would Kerr say on friday that he would not grant permission and than on sundy grant permission.

It's ESPN throwing darts. I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[D-Dogg]

lol @ "D'antoni Sweepstakes"

Yeah, I win that every time I play the Powerball.

 

[Evil Ash]

Everything on this thread comes from an espn.
I don't believe anything espn says until after the facts.

Why would Kerr say on friday that he would not grant permission and than on sundy grant permission.

It's ESPN throwing darts. I'll believe it when I see it.

It was KTAR reporting it first. ESPN is just repeating what was originally reported.

 

[dodie53]

DA wants to run with the Bulls.

 

[TJ]

Let him talk...and hopefully the Bulls or Knicks will give us some cash...ERRRRRRRR. I mean draft picks!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Everything on this thread comes from an espn.
I don't believe anything espn says until after the facts.

Why would Kerr say on friday that he would not grant permission and than on sundy grant permission.

It's ESPN throwing darts. I'll believe it when I see it.

Because now if they grant permission, and he signs somewhere else, I don't believe the Suns are on the hook for his 2 years remaining on his contract. If they fire him, they are.

 

[da_suns_fan]

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.

Actually, Sarver will say "Mike didn't want to be here, and I didn't want to pay anyone who didn't want to be here".

 

[azsouthendzone]

I think this whole situation is just ridiculous. The Suns management is basically saying that D'Antoni is not the right guy anymore to take this team to the next level, yet they won't fire him because that would cost too much money. Personally, I don't believe that a coaching change is going to change anything, regardless of who the new coach might be. But, if Sarver and Kerr truly believe they need a new coach to win a title (why else push D'Antoni out?), then by refusing to fire him they are once again proving to everyone that money is more important than a championship (if the KT trade wasn't proof enough).

You make absolutely ZERO sense. You think blowing 8 million dollars when you don't need to proves money is more important than a championship? That is rediculous. It is smart. Why blow the 8 mill when you don't need to when you get the same desired result? It's funny how entitled some fans think they are. If it was your 8 million bucks I'm sure you would just toss it in the toilet to pump your chest.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Actually, Sarver will say "Mike didn't want to be here, and I didn't want to pay anyone who didn't want to be here".

Uh, they don't want him here, he doesn't want to be here. It has NOTHING to do with money. Get a grip. Firing him would be like lighting 8 million bucks on fire. I'm not sure why this is so hard for you guys to understand. This isn't financial. He is a piss poor coach. Unreal what goes through the mind of orangites.

 

[Covert Rain]

You make absolutely ZERO sense. You think blowing 8 million dollars when you don't need to proves money is more important than a championship? That is rediculous. It is smart. Why blow the 8 mill when you don't need to when you get the same desired result? It's funny how entitled some fans think they are. If it was your 8 million bucks I'm sure you would just toss it in the toilet to pump your chest.

Nevermind. Revised my post. I think Sarver is a money pinching miser IMO. However, that doesn't mean that should throw away the balance of D'Antoni's contract if some other team is willing to take it off your hands. Your right. That is dumb.

 

[Muggum]

If I'm D'Antoni, I don't take the bait. I force Sarver to fire me and pay me my 8 million while I sit on the beach in Italy for two glorious years.

This happened with Iavaroni, Joe Johnson, and Bryan Colangelo. Sarver's predictably evil.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

Uh, they don't want him here, he doesn't want to be here. It has NOTHING to do with money. Get a grip. Firing him would be like lighting 8 million bucks on fire. I'm not sure why this is so hard for you guys to understand. This isn't financial. He is a piss poor coach. Unreal what goes through the mind of orangites.

Of course Sarver doesn't want to throw away 8.5 million, but if you think Sarver won't try to spin this on Mike not wanting to be here you are a fool. I can't wait to hear all the posters like you coming to the defense of Vinne Del Negro or Alvin Gentry as the coach because Mike didn't want to be here and left us without options.

Hope is an amazing thing.

 

[fordronken]

If I'm D'Antoni, I don't take the bait. I force Sarver to fire me and pay me my 8 million while I sit on the beach in Italy for two glorious years.

This happened with Iavaroni, Joe Johnson, and Bryan Colangelo. Sarver's predictably evil.

My understanding of his contract is that even if he is fired and takes another job, his new salary would be deducted from what he is owed by the Suns. Letting D'Antoni negotiate just guarantees that somebody will be paying him rather than them.

 

[Treesquid PhD]

My understanding of his contract is that even if he is fired and takes another job, his new salary would be deducted from what he is owed by the Suns. Letting D'Antoni negotiate just guarantees that somebody will be paying him rather than them.

I don't understand, Chicago could offer him a $1 contract and the Suns would be on the hook for $8.499999M?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

My understanding of his contract is that even if he is fired and takes another job, his new salary would be deducted from what he is owed by the Suns. Letting D'Antoni negotiate just guarantees that somebody will be paying him rather than them.

I don't understand, Chicago could offer him a $1 contract and the Suns would be on the hook for $8.499999M?

If he is fired, he gets to keep the money.

 

[Mainstreet]

I don't understand, Chicago could offer him a $1 contract and the Suns would be on the hook for $8.499999M?

No, he would have to sign for the veteran minimum of a million dollars.

Just kidding. Reminds me of the Suns always shopping for veteran minimum type players. Actually I think the Suns want close to their full amount of their investment back. It helps the Suns financially if several teams want him.