D'Antoni Accepts Offer From Knicks (Uncomfirmed)

[Scott]

According to various reports he is heading to the Knicks.

From ESPN:

Mike D'Antoni has accepted an offer to coach the New York Knicks, according to a media reports.

The former Phoenix Suns coach, who was also sought by the Chicago Bulls, has accepted a four-year, $24 million deal to take over the Knicks, according to reports by Sports Illustrated and The Boston Globe, both citing a league source.

The Knicks did not immediately confirm that D'Antoni is New York-bound.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3389987

[SShoreFan]

With Carlisle taking Dallas that leaves Phoenix and Chicago if I correct.  I can't imagine Phoenix being interested in Thibodeau, but the Bulls might have interest in him.

Can't believe I am worried about this, but I am.

[RebusRankin]

Why would you want to coach that team?

[celticmaestro]

this reply is a reply to jeff's comment on the front page:

Somewhere Jamal Crawford and Stephon Marbury are giddy with anticipation.

i thought marbury was going to italy this summer? i think d'antoni is the kind of coach that could get the best out of marbury, if stephon can motivate himself.

very good appointment by the knicks in my opinion. all they need now is to get rid of their obese front line...

[Bankshot]

Why would you want to coach that team?

It has to be money.  Why else would he jump on a sinking ship?

[SShoreFan]

Why would you want to coach that team?

It has to be money.  Why else would he jump on a sinking ship?

Jon Barry (not my favorite) was on ESPN Radio this morning saying he thought that Chicago was going to match the offer by the Knicks.  Apparently Chicago thought the offer was too rich.

Donnie Walsh is no idiot, maybe he sees away to mirror what the Celts did over a 3 year period.  Just a guess.

[Scott]

Why would you want to coach that team?

It has to be money.  Why else would he jump on a sinking ship?

More times than not, money is a factor but there were probably other considerations in play also.  Aside from the money, I would guess that Walsh was the biggest factor in D'Antoni taking the job.  Walsh most probably sold him on his vision and plans for the team.

On the other hand, D'Antoni may have just wanted to get as far away from the Spurs as possible   

[PRIDE]

If he can make them a playoff team next year he'll be in the running for Coach of the Year. I think he realizes that PHX is hitting a dead end. Nash and Shaq are on the decline. New York has talent but they are a mess. They will have a high draft pick to work with this offseason. I'm sure they'll make many changes as well. I think this will make or break D'Antoni as a coach.

[StartOrien]

that's a tall task. I know people have some glowing reviews of Jamal Crawford, but after living in western CT for 4 years I really have my questions on his ability to play team ball. I don't think you can get much out of Marbury. I'll be interested to see what they can do

Marbury
Crawford
Richardson
Lee
Randolph

[Roy Hobbs]

New York is a horrible, horrible fit for D'Antoni's system.  You couldn't pick two worse fits for big men than Randolph and Curry, and the team doesn't have the shooters or the passers that he needs.

He would have been much better off in Chicago, but I think it's fairly clear to everyone that this was a money move.

[BrickJames]

Keep in mind Isaiah is no longer at the helm - I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Donny Walsh blow the thing up this offseason.

If that is the case, and D'Antoni does take the offer, I'd say Crawford, Starbury, Lee, Balkman, and Randolph (because of his contract) stick around, and every one else is fair game for the trade block.

Trouble is, no one else on that team has any trade value...

Why would D'Antoni take this offer?

This is making me nervous that Thibideau already has his backs packed for Chicago.

[Who]

You couldn't pick two worse fits for big men than Randolph and Curry

Eddy Curry is probably done. I expect they'll push him hard this summer, he won't fit into D'Antoni's plans. Zach Randolph? They can take their time on Zach. Zach's a very good pick and roll player and they'll need someone like that next to their guards. D'Antoni will have to play him at centre though. Zach's likely not in the long term plans but short term he can help that team.

.............

Right now Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley both look phenomenal fits for D'Antoni's offense. Both would be killers there.

Look for the re-birth of Quentin Richardson also. Starbury will make another good showing if NY fail to land a new point. This will be good for Crawford, less thinking, more playing on instincts, when he thinks he gets in more trouble so this is good. David Lee is a nice fit for the offense too.

Interesting team.

[Who]

With Carlisle taking Dallas that leaves Phoenix and Chicago if I correct.  I can't imagine Phoenix being interested in Thibodeau, but the Bulls might have interest in him.

Can't believe I am worried about this, but I am.

Nah I don't see it. I don't think Paxson has the bottle to hire a first time head coach. He'll want Avery Johnson. Someone with some experience that already has a proven pedigree. That's his M.O.

Tom T is a long long long shot for that job. He's a long shot for any job. We'll wait and see what other changes are to come but I can't see anyone hiring him. Charlotte have already made their switch, Milwaukee too. Everybody in the lottery out West have kept their coaches so far. Spoelstra was hired in Miami. Who else is on the firing line? I don't see many. Tom looks out of luck. We'll wait and see though.

The playoff run has probably hurt his chances. Teams like to move quick, heck Donnie Walsh has been getting grief for about a week from the media and fans alike for taking so long. There's very few people that would wait until the end of the playoffs to talk to Tom. He'd have been interviewed for at least 3-4 jobs (NY, Chicago, Milwaukee) by now if he had been available to do interviews.

Not enough friends in big places ..... it's a problem. He has no Sam Presti waiting a month because he already knows everything about him. So many things working agains the man. There's no Danny Ferry waiting to get Mike Brown. People in NY didn't like him, they passed him over for Chaney. Houston's GM retired, the new GM brought in Adelman. Where's his friends at?