D'Antoni not 'D' man for the Knicks

It looks like Donnie Walsh has decided Suns’ coach Mike D’Antoni the man he wants behind the Knicks bench next season and beyond-a 5 year deal. But here’s reason #1 why I DON’T want D’Antoni here: He’s giving the Bulls the weekend to make a counter offer.

Understand: I don’t doubt D’Antoni’s ability. Averaging 57, 58 wins a season is nothing to shake a stick at. BUT: D’Antoni is pitting the Bulls and Knicks against each other while still under contract as the coach in Phoenix. If Mike can’t get along with Steve Kerr, how do you think he’ll deal with having Jim Dolan over his shoulder? (not to mention the employee mandated attendance at concerts where Dolan’s band is playing) If D’Antoni wants out of Phoenix because he and Kerr are at odds-then quit. But D’Antoni wants his cake and the chance to eat it too. If he quits, the Suns don’t owe him a cent. But if D’Antoni is fired, Phoenix owes him nearly 9 million bucks over the next two years. Sorry Mike: but that’s wrong. Plus, D’Antoni has won NO titles. New York was ticked when Pat Riley and Mike Keenan played the Big Apple for the fool, and so should Walsh. Really, after all the problems Isiah Thomas caused, do we need another ‘me first’ guy here? Former Sun Charles Barkley, never one known for his mainstream ideas, bashed D’Antoni during a radio interview.

Even if D’Antoni winds up here, Nash and Stoudemire aren’t tagging along to join the Knicks. D’Antoni is an offensive minded coach, and the Knicks haven’t attempted to play defense since Jeff Van Gundy left. He’ll also have to get used to 50+ losses a season while the team cuts down its salary cap issues. Memo to Walsh: Let D’Antoni be somebody else’s problem. Rebuild with Mark Jackson. Getting the Knicks out of the mess Dolan and Isiah created will be tough enough. Steve Nash expects D’Antoni to stay with the Suns.

Let’s hope -especially for the Knicks’ sake, that Nash is right.