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May 7th, 2008, 1:24 pm · Post a Comment · posted by jerrybrown
I don’t know where Mike D’Antoni is going. I do know he’s not coming back to the Suns, unless both sides are prepared to engage in the strangest relationship this side of “Desperate Housewives.”
But if I’m D’Antoni and I have a choice between the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks, I’m heading for the city that never sleeps in a heartbeat.
Yes, the Bulls have a more talented roster, a more stable organization and are much more equipped to embrace D’Antoni’s up-tempo mantra. But assuming D’Antoni isn’t going to guide either team to an NBA championship — a pretty safe bet from here — there are a lot of reasons why I’d take Manhattan:
*Finances: Let’s start with what makes the world go ‘round. The Bulls are going to have a hard time matching the $4-5 million a year D’Antoni was making in Phoenix. In fact, since owner Jerryt Reinsdorf has to send Scott Skiles a $4 million Christmas card 90 miles away in Milwaukee, scratching the next check will be even harder.
The Knicks can find $30 million for five years by flipping over the seat cushions over at Cablevision. D’Antoni made some money coaching in Europe and Phoenix, but a deal like that is a life-changer.
*Expectations. Before slipping last year, the Bulls reached the second round of the playoffs – knocking off the defending champions from Miami – and anything less than a return to that level would be seen as a disappointment. And while they are talented, the Chicago locker room already has some problems (Joakim Noah) and the contract situations of Luol Deng and Ben Gordon remain in limbo.
In New York, D’Antoni could run for mayor with a 40-win season. As long as he talks to the press, keeps his hands off the female employees and doesn’t add “defendant” to his resume, he’s golden. And since the Knicks realize they don’t have the correct pieces for his offense – his first season will be viewed as a mulligan while Donnie Walsh retools the roster.
*Management. Much like Steve Kerr, both Chicago GM John Paxson and owner Jerry Reinsdorf have championship rings earned by defense (and Michael Jordan). How long before the same questions that dogged D’Antoni here pop up in the Windy City?
In New York, D’Antoni will be coming in with Walsh, might have some influence on the choice for the new GM and while the great Knick teams have been steeped in defense, any philosophy that doesn’t include losing 104-59 to the Celtics will fly right now.
*Press. Yes, D’Antoni is sensitive to criticism and the New York tabloids can be brutal. But Chicago isn’t much better. If I’m going to have either Peter Vescey or Jay Marriotti lobbing grenades at me anyway, I’m getting my $6 million a year.
There you have it, Mike. Take the money. Roll the dice. If it doesn’t work out, hey, you’ll be rich and you’ll always have Treviso.
