Knicks head coach Mike Woodson talks to Iman Shumpert (21)...

Knicks head coach Mike Woodson talks to Iman Shumpert (21) during the first half. (April 17, 2012) Credit: AP

The Knicks officially are expected to remove the interim label from Mike Woodson's title this week, according to multiple sources. The two sides are working on a long-term deal, the sources said, and something could be done within the next couple of days.

The Knicks were 18-6 under Woodson in the regular season after going 18-24 under Mike D'Antoni, who resigned March 14. They made the playoffs for the second straight season, losing to the Heat, four games to one.

There was speculation throughout the season that the Knicks would pursue Phil Jackson or John Calipari as their next coach.

Woodson, who had discussions about a contract extension with Knicks management during the playoffs, received strong endorsements from general manager and former Indiana University teammate Glen Grunwald toward the end of the season. Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler all backed Woodson's return.

Woodson, who was drafted by the Knicks with the 12th pick in 1980, won an NBA title as an assistant coach on Larry Brown's staff with the 2004 Pistons. The next season, Woodson became head coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

He spent six years with Atlanta and reached the playoffs the last three years there, and the second round twice. The Hawks went 53-29 in 2009-10, Woodson's last season in Atlanta. His career record is 224-292 and 12-22 in the playoffs.

 

D'Antoni speaks

D'Antoni broke his silence about his resignation in an interview with SI.com. He sidestepped questions about Anthony, who some have blamed for D'Antoni's departure. "I'm just not going to get into specifics," D'Antoni told SI.com. "It came to the point that I had to resign, that's all. It was time. We weren't going anywhere and I was the coach.

"It's still a great job, and I think Woody [Woodson] will do a great job. It got to the point where we had problems, we could not solve them, and an obstacle had to be removed."

D'Antoni wants to coach again, but he said he probably will take a year off and not move since his son will be entering his senior year of high school.

 

Lin on select team

Jeremy Lin was among 13 players chosen for the USA men's select team that will train against the national team in Las Vegas in July. Anthony and Chandler are finalists on the national team that will play in this summer's London Olympics. D'Antoni is an assistant coach. Joining Lin on the select team are NBA Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Ryan Anderson, DeJuan Blair, DeMarcus Cousins, DeMar DeRozan, Derrick Favors, Paul George, Taj Gibson, Gordon Hayward, Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson.

 

Knicks look at prospects

The Knicks will begin working out draft prospects Wednesday. Former Xavier point guard Tu Holloway of Hempstead will be part of the first group. The Knicks own the 48th pick in the June 28 draft.

The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Knicks, Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.

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