Suns coach Mike D'Antoni will interview with Chicago and New York about their head coaching vacancies in a sign that he and the Suns brass may have irreconcilable differences. D'Antoni and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr were not available for comment but a franchise source confirmed a KTAR-AM report that Suns management had given D'Antoni permission to interview with other teams. Kerr said last week that he would not give any other NBA team permission to talk to D'Antoni until their situation was resolved. D'Antoni met with Kerr and Suns Managing Partner Robert Sarver for more than two hours Friday in what Kerr described as a "productive meeting." They planned to part for a few days and reconvene this week. But this weekend, the parties spoke again by phone, and now D'Antoni can talk to other teams about a job. The situation seems to have two conclusions: D'Antoni will remain coach or he will land another job. He is owed $8.5 million the next two seasons so he would not be fired at that cost. The deal is fully offset should he take another job upon being fired, but that is risky for the Suns, who may be seeking assurance that D'Antoni has another job in place. Kerr and D'Antoni have been trying to repair a rift that began with a November argument between Kerr and D'Antoni and continued when Kerr was asked about D'Antoni's status during the playoffs, to which Kerr said evaluations would come in the off-season.

can Chicago run n gun like phoenix? I dont think they have the profficient shooters PHX or GS has

 I think Phoenix was hoping to wait until Dallas hired a coach before thinking of letting D'Antoni go. And I wouldn't be shocked if the only allow D'Antoni to interview for East teams. Personally, I hope he goes to NY. He can turn that team around.

Adelman:

 I think Phoenix was hoping to wait until Dallas hired a coach before thinking of letting D'Antoni go. And I wouldn't be shocked if the only allow D'Antoni to interview for East teams. Personally, I hope he goes to NY. He can turn that team around.

A composite of Auerbach, Pat Riley and Phil Jackson couldn't turn NY around. I almost do hope he ends up in NY so people will finally stop attributing so much of what a team does to its coach. NY will not be turned around until ownership gives managment a mandate to do just that turn the team around LONG term. If the Knicks truly do want to turn the team around any coach that has them for the next couple years will have a s*it record as they rebuild and purge the mess they have there.

I think its obvious at this point that Suns ownership is the big problem. Making moves to a contender level team aimed at avoiding lux tax, the depatures of JJ and Marion. I'll love to see how much better any other coach makes trhis Suns team with a Nash that WILL break down in a big way at some point and 40 games from a Shaq that's rolling down hill at maximum speed (who I bet comes into camp at least 50 lbs overweight)

Personally, I am hoping that Walsh can fit that roster to a style which will suite the D'Antoni system.

NY is the largest media market and can attract FAs (Calderon can run that D'Antoni offense well). I think the only things holding the Knicks back in recent years were Isiah and Layden. With this new management, they can be competitive.

Adelman:

Personally, I am hoping that Walsh can fit that roster to a style which will suite the D'Antoni system.

 

NY is the largest media market and can attract FAs (Calderon can run that D'Antoni offense well). I think the only things holding the Knicks back in recent years were Isiah and Layden. With this new management, they can be competitive.

More from ESPN

Suns will allow D'Antoni talk to other teams about head coaching positions

By Marc Stein

The signals suggesting that Mike D'Antoni and the Phoenix Suns will soon part company are only getting stronger.

Suns president Steve Kerr said Monday that he will allow D'Antoni to talk to other teams about potential head coaching opportunties.

"As we have continued to convey, we value Mike D'Antoni as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and would like him to continue leading this basketball team. Because he has requested to speak to other teams about their head coaching vacancies, we have granted him permission," Kerr said in a statement.
D'Antoni, reached by telephone by The Associated Press on Monday, declined to comment.

"I really can't say anything," he said.

On Sunday night, KTAR Radio (620 AM) in Phoenix reported what Kerr confirmed Monday, that D'Antoni has suddenly been granted permission to speak with other teams, including Chicago and New York, about their coaching openings.


Kerr had originally 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 reiterated to ESPN.com again Sunday that D'Antoni believes 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.

Could have traded Amare for KG. Dummies.

Adelman:

Personally, I am hoping that Walsh can fit that roster to a style which will suite the Diantoni system.

 

NY is the largest media market and can attract FAs (Calderon can run that Dantoni offense well). I think the only things holding the Knicks back in recent years were Isiah and Layden. With this new management, they can be competitive.

What exactly will the Kincks attract free agents with? The MLE? They have no free AGENT $ TO SPEND.

Maybe free agents will jump at the chance to play with Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry . Maybe players will think that being fed by Crawford and Marbury will help their career.

As inept as Thomas and Layden were/are s*it rolls downhill. Dolan gave these guys the mandate to make the playoffs at all costs, the budget to make the mess that exists now and refused to allow a true rebuilding effort that probably would have resulted in much worse if any record than what they ended up with. You can plug whoever you want in as GM but unless Dolan gives them a mandate to blow it up, suffer through a couple rebuilding years nothing will change. I don't know why any established coach would want the Knicks job for the next couple of years. They will either suck because they are rebuilding or suck because they refuse to rebuild. Either way they will suck. Mark Jackson would make a nice coach but I would make him a head coach right now. Let him be an assistant while some sacrificial lamb eats the losing years (like Herb Williams or someone) Then when they have started to rebuild give Jackson a shot with the new players he's already built a relationship as an assistant.

I don't want to rain on your parade, Midtown, but there is a difference between the Knicks now and the Celtics last year. Boston, despite a couple bloopers (like trading the pick that went for Brandon Roy) was pretty well stocked on young talent. NY is not nearly so stocked.

It is rebuilding time. The best you can hope for is to pick up 1-2 good players per year. With the high draft picks they might be really good players. There are a couple decent players on the team--David Lee comes to mind--to start to work with. Figure about 3 years, having added about 6 players who can contribute, including hopefully 3 who can contribute well, and by that time have the $$$ available to pull in free agents.

Three years is not that bad, really. We have just gone through our 4th, in Portland, and are looking to break back into the playoffs next year with hope for the future.

MIDTOWN:

Toolate, you seem to forget things can change in the NBA really fast. Look at Boston last year and Boston this year. Look at Miami 2 years ago and Miami this year. NY has suffered because of bad mgmt. Layden & Isiah failed to get good chemistry players. Donnie Walsh doesn't have it easy but I think you'll see a big difference in the next 2 years. We have this years draft that can start off the whole shabang right now if they get lucky enough to get the top 2 picks. There are a few players that have potential and a few that could be traded. Walsh is aiming at cap space for 2010 but has stated that he wants the team to be competitive in the meantime .

And what does "competative" mean?

Does it mean the players compete and try hard. That would be great if you blow the thing up and let players like Balman, Lee compete and play hard. But if it means what its meant during the recent Dolan eara ..as in "Compete" for a playoff spot then you are dreaming. The Knicks do not ahve the assets or the young talent to rebuild "on the fly". You either need to accept that you'll get worse before you get better or be stuck in mediocrity.

Toolatecrew:

Adelman:

Personally, I am hoping that Walsh can fit that roster to a style which will suite the Diantoni system.

 

NY is the largest media market and can attract FAs (Calderon can run that Dantoni offense well). I think the only things holding the Knicks back in recent years were Isiah and Layden. With this new management, they can be competitive.

 

What exactly will the Kincks attract free agents with? The MLE? They have no free AGENT $ TO SPEND.

Maybe free agents will jump at the chance to play with Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry . Maybe players will think that being fed by Crawford and Marbury will help their career.

As inept as Thomas and Layden were/are s*it rolls downhill. Dolan gave these guys the mandate to make the playoffs at all costs, the budget to make the mess that exists now and refused to allow a true rebuilding effort that probably would have resulted in much worse if any record than what they ended up with. You can plug whoever you want in as GM but unless Dolan gives them a mandate to blow it up, suffer through a couple rebuilding years nothing will change. I don't know why any established coach would want the Knicks job for the next couple of years. They will either suck because they are rebuilding or suck because they refuse to rebuild. Either way they will suck. Mark Jackson would make a nice coach but I would make him a head coach right now. Let him be an assistant while some sacrificial lamb eats the losing years (like Herb Williams or someone) Then when they have started to rebuild give Jackson a shot with the new players he's already built a relationship as an assistant.

I don't know. Mike D'Antoni's system will attract many players. 

Adelman:

 

 

I don't know. Mike D'Antoni's system will attract many players. 

Once again how do you expect to PAY these players that want to play in Mike's "system". The knicks are way over cap for next 3 years meaning you have the MLE and the LLAE to play with. No matter how much guys might like to play in his system they aren't going to pass up millions of dollars to accept 1 M a year that the Knicks have left. Is it really Mike's system? How effective will the Suns system be with Marbury Crawford and Robinson distributing? Players like to play with Steve Nash not in the Suns system enccissarily.

Toolatecrew:

MIDTOWN:

Toolate, you seem to forget things can change in the NBA really fast. Look at Boston last year and Boston this year. Look at Miami 2 years ago and Miami this year. NY has suffered because of bad mgmt. Layden & Isiah failed to get good chemistry players. Donnie Walsh doesn't have it easy but I think you'll see a big difference in the next 2 years. We have this years draft that can start off the whole shabang right now if they get lucky enough to get the top 2 picks. There are a few players that have potential and a few that could be traded. Walsh is aiming at cap space for 2010 but has stated that he wants the team to be competitive in the meantime .

 

And what does "competative" mean?

Does it mean the players compete and try hard. That would be great if you blow the thing up and let players like Balman, Lee compete and play hard. But if it means what its meant during the recent Dolan eara ..as in "Compete" for a playoff spot then you are dreaming. The Knicks do not ahve the assets or the young talent to rebuild "on the fly". You either need to accept that you'll get worse before you get better or be stuck in mediocrity.

Toolatecrew:

Adelman:

 

 

I don't know. Mike D'Antoni's system will attract many players. 

 

Once again how do you expect to PAY these players that want to play in Mike's "system". The knicks are way over cap for next 3 years meaning you have the MLE and the LLAE to play with. No matter how much guys might like to play in his system they aren't going to pass up millions of dollars to accept 1 M a year that the Knicks have left. Is it really Mike's system? How effective will the Suns system be with Marbury Crawford and Robinson distributing? Players like to play with Steve Nash not in the Suns system enccissarily.

New York is the biggest media market in the nation. Do you think they care about saving the money? Look at their payroll!

They want to win now, they do not have time to wait. That media is not built for a rebuilding team. They need to get D'Antoni, they need to gut the roster and they need to make a comeback year like the Celtics/Lakers/Hornets/Magic of this year. 

Adelman:

New York is the biggest media market in the nation. Do you think they care about saving the money? Look at their payroll!

 

They want to win now, they do not have time to wait. That media is not built for a rebuilding team. They need to get D'Antoni, they need to gut the roster and they need to make a comeback year like the Celtics/Lakers/Hornets/Magic of this year. 

They might as well cure cancer while they are at it.

How exactly does one gut a roster full of horrible contracts and make a comeback year at the same time? How is D'Antoni going to help that? Is he able to suspend the laws of time, space and the salary cap all at the same time.

This is exactly the attitude Dolan has that has continued to doom this team. We need to rebouild but becuase of the media attention we NEED to wein NOW. Its simply not possible to do both.

Celtics accumulated young talent with reasonable contracts. Then used that to get Allen and KG to surround PP. The knicks don't have young talent like Jefferson to trade nor the same useful contracts. Magic drafted the 1st team All NBAcenter in Howard to build around. Is Eddy Curry going to change into Howard? Lakers already had an MVP on their Team what do the knicks have.

It could happen but no way it happens quickly.

Toolatecrew:

Adelman:

New York is the biggest media market in the nation. Do you think they care about saving the money? Look at their payroll!

 

They want to win now, they do not have time to wait. That media is not built for a rebuilding team. They need to get D'Antoni, they need to gut the roster and they need to make a comeback year like the Celtics/Lakers/Hornets/Magic of this year. 

They might as well cure cancer while they are at it.

How exactly does one gut a roster full of horrible contracts and make a comeback year at the same time? How is D'Antoni going to help that? Is he able to suspend the laws of time, space and the salary cap all at the same time.

This is exactly the attitude Dolan has that has continued to doom this team. We need to rebouild but becuase of the media attention we NEED to wein NOW. Its simply not possible to do both.

Celtics accumulated young talent with reasonable contracts. Then used that to get Allen and KG to surround PP. The knicks don't have young talent like Jefferson to trade nor the same useful contracts. Magic drafted the 1st team All NBAcenter in Howard to build around. Is Eddy Curry going to change into Howard? Lakers already had an MVP on their Team what do the knicks have.

It could happen but no way it happens quickly.