Was NY actually D'Antoni's first choice?
Interesting story by KC Johnson in today's Chicago Tribune (as most of you already know, Newsday is no longer related to the Trib, but we still like KC). Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf tells his side of things regarding L'Affaire D'Antoni and how he somehow slipped out of the Bulls' grasp and right into Donnie Walsh's lap.
"I'm disappointed in him," Reinsdorf told Johnson. "I don't know what else we could've done. He chose to go to New York knowing there was a good chance we would make him an offer. If he had really wanted to be in Chicago, he would've waited. Instead, he misled us. It's not the end of the world, but it is somewhat rude."
The way Reinsdorf so candidly tells it, the Bulls actually did want D'Antoni. But D'Antoni, after two discussions with the Bulls, including a two hour and 15 minute meeting between Reinsdorf and D'Antoni in Phoenix last Friday, decided he wanted to go to New York. Confidants that I've talked to over the past few days say D'Antoni felt "wanted" by the Knicks. After a season where he felt he was being undercut by management in Phoenix, D'Antoni was looking to go where he felt he had the confidence of his boss.
"They're committed to getting it done," the confidant told me. "It's exciting to have everybody focused on Job 1, which is to bring New York back . . . It’s a challenge."
Perhaps D'Antoni's hesitation with Chicago had to do with John Paxson asking so much about defense during the interview. Walsh didn't ask questions, he made a sales pitch. It included giving him the confidence that he would not be second-guessed by management and he would have all the resources he needed from the Garden vault. And, of course, there's that plan to get under the cap by 2010 so the Knicks can go after LeBron James.
The Bulls could only offer the chance to win now, with a roster that already has talent that could fit in D'Antoni's system. And Reinsdorf said D'Antoni made it seem as if he had no interest in the Knicks, even with those reports of a potentially "staggering" contract offer from New York.
"He said . . . money wasn't the most important thing anyway," Reinsdorf said. "He said he wanted a job where he was going to be happiest. He said he didn't want to coach the Knicks."
What do you know, we found another lie within this process.
But what seems to be the truth is the Bulls really did want D'Antoni. Which suggests the Knicks weren't his second choice after all.
Twenty-four million dollars can make you change you mind rather quickly.
* *
While we're discussion possibly ways the Knicks can revamp this roster, take a peek at a story in the Denver Post from last week, which said the Nuggets will make changes to their team. That includes, believe it or not, Carmelo Anthony.
Denver Post:
While the Nuggets have given no indication they will actively shop Anthony, the constant drama in the life of their 23-year-old forward has become the source of enough frustration within team headquarters that Denver would be willing to listen if somebody made a trade offer too good to refuse for Melo. The problem? In a league where stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dominate, it's difficult to come out ahead when trading a singular immense talent for any combination of players and draft picks.
That's a tough contract to pick up because it means you are out of the LeBron sweepstakes, so I don't see it happening. The Nuggets might look to move Marcus Camby, but we remember he originally left the Garden because he walked out of one of those media training workshops. Sometimes there's no going home, but he would fit well in the D'Antoni system and his shot-blocking ability is sorely needed.
Plus, his contract would work short-term. He is set to make $11,250,000 next season and $10,900,000 in 2009-10, after which he becomes a free agent and comes off the ledger.
Didn't the Nuggets have an interest in Zach Randolph before the trade deadline? Things that make ya go hmmmm.....
* *
So what do we do here at The Fix now that we're owned by Cablevision, the same people that own Madison Square Garden and the Knicks? Why, we expect to get back-door access, rock-star parking and sushi at the press table. I might even start typing my stories with those foam No. 1 fingers.
As for integrity? Don't expect me to change anything (aside from, perhaps, referring to my boss as "Mr. Dolan" instead of things like Jimmy D and D'oh-lan).
As long as I have a comfy chair in the press room, a key to the MSG Training Facility so I can use the gym on game days between the shoot-around and the game and access to the lunch room, we're cool.
And free cable.
But when it comes to basketball, I have a job to do and I believe Mr. Dolan understands that.
For media-related issues, I refer you to Newsday's Media Watchdog, Neil Best, who has all the answers. And whatever answers he doesn't have, he always chooses C. I heard the guy scored a 1480 on his SATs by employing that method.
Heading off to Manhattan for the press conference soon. I'll check in afterward.
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Comments (20)
Had to remark, re. The Dunk: the TNT guy's call was one of the best I've heard: "LeBron, with no regard for human life!"
Wouldn't Camby be sweet, but then again, we ALL need that kind of guy watching our back. I could use a shot blocker at the grocery store.
But if D'Antoni is to do defense with his trapeze show, thats how it could work. I've always wanted our longs - Balkman, Jeffries, Collins, now Chandler, out front and trapping the ball hard. If you have long players who can run the floor and pass and shoot (ok, those dudes don't shoot, but moving forward, if those are the types of players to be brought here) you could do worse than picking up at half court, forcing ball handlers too the corners and sidelines and having a Camby-like center playing free-safety.
Think we'll ever get to see Nate as Bogues now that D'Ant is here? That will be the acid test. If he D's as well as chucks, I'll be happy.
Jeez, enough of the negativity already. The Knicks hired an experienced, winning coach, who is admired by his players and his peers. Move on.
I am amazed at how this hire has been handled by the NY Press. Frankly, I have no idea who the Knicks could have hired as coach to please the media?
And the fans are tired of the complaining, Let's talk about how the team can be improved, about a long term strategy, about having an exciting team to watch.
Love Mikey D already! According to one of the "Rat Pack" ..as follows:
One of the first plays Mike D'Antoni is expected to draw up as the Knicks' new coach is for Stephon Marbury to run up the Garden floor ... and out the door back to Phoenix to rejoin the Suns.
Once D'Antoni is formally named to succeed Isiah Thomas, he is expected to try to make a push for two of his favorite Suns - forward Boris Diaw and guard Leandro Barbosa, who reportedly have fallen out of favor with Suns management. According to a person close to D'Antoni, one of his first moves would be to get the Knicks to offer Marbury and his expiring $22 million contract as a central part of the deal.
I believe that Marbury's expiring contract and not Marbury the player may get this deal done!!!! YES! Let's go Knicks!
The second-rate hockey writer does whatever Mr. Dolan and Mr. Dolan tell him to do.
Nothing will change once they take formal ownership of the paper. While Berman carried Marbury's bags, the second-rate hockey writer always spun the Dolans' garbage.
love the prospect of getting Camby back, but why would Denver make their bad defensive team even worse by taking on Z-Bo? Especially with his contract.
We'd probably have to sweeten that deal by adding Lee.
It pains me to say it, but it would be worth it. A shot blocking center who could run the court, plus getting rid of Randolph (the biggest hurdle in clearing cap space for 2010)...
What about Z-bo for Artest and Shareef? The money matches up and they get rid of a head case and a bum. Shareef could help us next year, and it would be easy to buy him out if it didn't work out.
Yea seriously david, the ny media is so used to the knicks being a circus that they cant get past the idea that isiah is gone, respected basketball men are in place, and they will have a plan. They are so caught up in the process of how this happened and whether or not it fits. WHO IS A FIT? Theres way to much speculation going on and way too many avenues of misinformation. D'antoni hasnt even been formally introduced, and mitch lawrence has him trading stephon marbury for boris diaw and barbosa; purely based on one article people are in an uproar because they think Donnie Walsh is gonna go against what he said he was gonna do. They guy hasnt even made a roster transaction, people need to chill out.
Malik Rose for Boris Diaw is also a possibility. Diaw is one of my favorite players in the NBA and his passing ability would be a great addition to this team. They have needed someone who doesnt need the ball to be a effective for a long time and thats exactly what he is. I do however think that they have to move Randolph before they could make this move. Trade him for any bad contract that expires in 2 years, even Ben Wallace. Although Randolphs contract is big, hes young, capable of averaging 20-10, and has never played with a solid surrounding cast.
As far as the draft goes.. I would be pleased with any of these 4 guards in this order; Rose, Bayless, Augustin, Westbrook
Listening to Walsh on MSG on what D'Antoni brings:
He has gone into losing situations, taken what they have and turned it around (Italy, Phoenix)
on Phoenix: He took his best five players, made them the starting five, saw they were small and figured they would have to run, they started playing and before you know it they are 31 and 4 and "7 seconds or less" was born.
Get your best players on the floor, WHOEVER they are, and then figure out how to play. That's a good way to go about it and what the rebuild guy gets to do. Neither he or Walsh is tied to any of these current players, Dolan is said to be out of the picture, so there is no reason to have to play Marbury, to have to play Curry, or anyone else. I like that concept. As the often burned Knicks fan under Dolan's watch, I hope this will happen. I hope this means that Walsh will stay with his salary reduction strategy. If all the above comes to pass, D'Antoni is a perfect guy as he is above all a creative guy who has the experience of building an administration and implementing a system. In this, he is better than Mark. So we can look at this hire as the importation of a flexible guy, a creative guy, who can shepherd a team, and win, while the changes continue to happen. Its the press that have made an idol of the 7 seconds or less and said D'Antoni can do only that and our players can't do it.
I look forward to firing him after we've won 58 games a year for three years.
Alan, what's going to happen to Herb? I'm surprised no one asked that at the press conference. I listened to it on the radio, and was a little bit surprised at the level of questions that were asked...
Was that woman serious asking whether or not he'd like to bring Nash to the Knicks? Seemed like there was a real limited time for questions, and a lot that I had were not asked...
I got a good impression from him though from what I heard.
Just saw MIkey and Donny at the new conference. Mike seems stressed already, but he must love the money. Let's jack em up in 7 secs or less and shoot 35% and never mind the Knix tradition of DEFENSE or that they don't have a point guard or any forwards who can pass. Where's my Knix, dude?
DTR
you must have a very loose definition of tradition
also, RIP herb
Everybody's panties in a twist in the press, and all of the squawking boils down to two basic positions on his hire:
1. He can't play his style with the players here; so, he can't win
2. He can't win because its a rebuilding project; so, again he can't win
Logically, only one of those can be true, and yet he's beat on with both scenarios, in virtually the same breath. You can't have it both ways. If its a rebuild (as we are all in agreement it is, or Walsh has been lying since Dolan ever spoke to him about the job) the current players won't be here, and he will be able with Walsh to get the players for his style. You don't like his style - that's fine - a completely different question. What was Mark Jackson's "style" or Avery Johnson's "style" that we've lost out on? Presumably (I'd love Mark here too, its all kindof the same till the rebuild is done) for all the press who think Jackson was the only right guy, Mark had some magic way of playing basketball that suits Zach, Eddy, and Steph perfectly? Of course not, there is no style of basketball that overcomes such a flawed roster. The roster must change.
So really, it all STILL comes down to the most the most important thing, which is, whose gonna be the GM, and what is Walsh going to tell him to do?
Great commentary here, and a reminder about the last time a run and gun guy came to coach the Knicks:
http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=8661
@ Willis
You don't hire a coach of D'Antoni's status and then
bring in "Joe the Schmoe" as GM. I don't believe we will
hire anyone as GM. Walsh has enough help and even stated
he will being refering question's to Thomas ...a lot! ( 6 mill/year)
Anyone note that only Berman was permitted to ask D'Antoni
a question, while Alan, Lawrence and Isola didn't get the chance to ask D'Antoni the time of day, while Warner Wolf got to ask TWO question's? At least Ken Berger got to ask a question!
I believe Alan got unfairly lumped together with the"Grill" and fat
Frank Isola. !
hey Alan. Hope that everything DOES goe well for you once Newsday is officially part of the Dolan empire. I've seen their work first hand. And I for one... am frightened. Write another BOOK so I have something new of yours to read... um... but NOT about Basketball, ok? - dee
"@ Willis
You don't hire a coach of D'Antoni's status and then
bring in "Joe the Schmoe" as GM. I don't believe we will
hire anyone as GM. Walsh has enough help and even stated
he will being refering question's to Thomas ...a lot! ( 6 mill/year)"
FOCKERY!!! What a sick puppy you are. Mike D'Antoni came aboard BECAUSE Isiah is no longer in power, not because Isiah still has darn thing to do with the Knicks.
Every "Joe the Schmoe" in the MSG crowd was convinced by the end of last season that they could do a better GM job than Isiah Thomas in New York. And why have an insulting elitist running your phones for the knicks, trying to work deals? What if there is a trade and he has to get on the horn and talk to MJ and LB in Charlotte, George Karl in Denver, Popovich in San Antonio, Larry Bird in Indiana, Lenny Wilkins in Seattle? that's one sixth of the league right there that would love nothing more than to fock over Isiah any way they can. I say bring in a parking ticket officer or a deadbeat dad to GM, much more likeable than Isiah Thomas in the NBA. The only guy that could stand him before was Walsh and now that he's in New York,there is nobody left. Joe D. in Detroit isn't about to start giving up jack to any would be GM such as Isiah or that other clown he picked Grunwald.
Now I do believe Isiah will do a good job getting Walsh and D'Antoni mocha lattes from the Borders at 2 penn plaza. Remember Isiah: skim milk, two sugars.
Just keep Thomas and Marbury away from the female employees this time around, like Deb Kaufman. Deb, you've been warned.
If this is a new regime, take out all of the trash, even if you can't do it all at once, you have to start somewhere.
@ Anonymous( Mark Spells better)
"What if there is a trade and he has to get on the horn and talk to MJ and LB in Charlotte, George Karl in Denver, Popovich in San Antonio, Larry Bird in Indiana, Lenny Wilkins in Seattle? that's one sixth of the league right there that would love nothing more than to fock over Isiah any way they can."
You just proved my point! Thats why we have Deep Cover Donnie!
Like or not....Thank you!
Hey putz @ 18:57,
Walsh can't even pronounce D'Antoni's name correctly!
You Believe this is Walsh?
Peace is trashing this blog.
he has ruined a couple of blogs already. on one site he actually got banned
can anyone here get peace to shut up already?
he contribute nothing but garbage
.