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NEW YORK: The New York Knicks said Saturday that coach Mike
D’Antoni has accepted an offer in principle to make the move from
the Phoenix Suns to New York, but said the deal had yet to be
sealed.
In a story posted on their website, the National
Basketball Association team said terms of the contract were not
confirmed, and that a news conference would be scheduled when the
deal was done.
Press reports Saturday said D’Antoni and the
Knicks agreed on a four-year deal worth $24 million.
The move seems something of a surprise for
D’Antoni, who had two years remaining on his contract with the
Suns that would have paid him nearly $9 million.
He was reportedly also mulling an offer from the
Chicago Bulls.
D’Antoni’s departure from the Suns was not
unexpected, but a move to the lumbering Knicks was.
In Phoenix he had developed a run-and-gun style
that encourages players to take shots within the first seven seconds
of the shot clock.
The Knicks, featuring plodding big men Eddy
Curry and Zach Randolph as well as a string of unwilling
passers—including point guard Stephon Marbury—seem unlikely
material for D’Antoni’s system.
However, D’Antoni could be just the man to
provide a new start for the Knicks after the tumultuous reign of
Isiah Thomas.
He developed the Suns into one of the NBA’s
highest-scoring and most entertaining teams, although they were
unable to advance beyond the Western Conference finals.
This year, the Suns were eliminated by the San
Antonio Spurs in five games, their first opening-round exit from the
playoffs since 2003.
Earlier this week the Suns granted him
permission to speak with other clubs.
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