Mike D'Anontio confirms Bulls story, says talks ended in a misunderstanding

Knicks coach admits talks with Bulls ended in misunderstanding

By K.C. Johnson | Tribune reporter

May 14, 2008

Unveiled as the 24th coach in Knicks franchise history Tuesday, Mike D'Antoni took the high road, always a comfortable place when it's paved with $24 million.

Not only didn't D'Antoni fire back at Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for branding him as "rude" and misleading, the new Knicks' coach didn't dispute the account of events Reinsdorf presented in interviews with the Tribune and the Sporting News.

Reinsdorf said he left last Friday's meeting with the impression from D'Antoni the Bulls had time to make an offer, particularly because D'Antoni "said he didn't want to coach the Knicks." The next morning, D'Antoni's agent told general manager John Paxson his client had accepted the Knicks' four-year deal.

"There might have been a misunderstanding," D'Antoni said on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption." "We talked for three hours and all through … the conversation, I didn't quite put it that way; maybe I did. But I do know I was not trying to be rude to anybody and I know Chicago is a great organization. … Everything was good. I took all that into account."

In the end, D'Antoni said his comfort level with Knicks President Donnie Walsh, as well as family considerations, sealed the deal as much as anything. In comments to Knicks beat writers after Tuesday's news conference at Madison Square Garden, D'Antoni labeled his meeting with Reinsdorf a "great talk" and agreed he planned to talk to him Monday or Tuesday "and get an offer from him."

Instead, D'Antoni made his decision late Friday and then agreed he didn't ask for a Bulls counteroffer because he felt no need.

"I didn't want Chicago to go, 'Oh, we'll give you X-amount of money,' " D'Antoni told New York reporters. "It didn't matter. If I got more or less, it didn't matter. I wanted to be in New York."

D'Antoni agreed Walsh played a large role.

"I did feel he came to get me and I liked that," D'Antoni said. "When you're getting divorced by somebody, it feels good to be liked."

As for the Bulls, Paxson's search will slow as he waits to talk to Avery Johnson and assistants working for playoff teams.

Gathering background won't be difficult on people like Lakers assistant Brian Shaw and Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin. They are on a long list that includes Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau, Pistons assistant Michael Curry, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, Kings assistant Chuck Person, former Suns and Sonics coach Paul Westphal and other unknown candidates.

Paxson can talk to Phil Jackson about Shaw and Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor, a trusted confidant, about Corbin.

For all the talk about Paxson preferring a defensive-minded coach, the dalliance with D'Antoni and interest in candidates like Shaw and Corbin also speak to his desire to find an established offensive system.

Paxson played under Jackson in Tex Winter's triangle offense and has discussed a desire to hire a coach with a clear offensive vision. Shaw and fellow Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis know the triangle. Corbin played for Rick Adelman in Sacramento and works for Jerry Sloan in Utah, two coaches with known offensive systems.

D'Antoni, of course, has one of those too. Look for it to play on Broadway.

kcjohnson@tribune.com