Bulls News

"When the Bulls hire Tom Thibodeau or Dwane Casey or Michael Curry or even someone with head-coaching cachet such as Avery Johnson, general manager John Paxson will talk about the coach's strengths and the solid fit he provides. Paxson won't be lying. But he might be talking through gritted teeth. Paxson made clear with a statement he released Saturday, shortly after getting spurned by Mike D'Antoni, that the new Knicks coach had wowed him...Yes, Paxson had asked D'Antoni to hire a veteran defensive-minded assistant. But instead of stuffing current Bulls personnel into a box, Paxson wanted to hand D'Antoni the keys to the car and find the accelerator."

"Love. There, I wrote it. In the week or so it took to decide this was the coach of Chicago's dreams, our basic indifference (Mike D'Antoni, shrug) had turned to love (Mike D'Amore!). It was one of those May 3 to May 10 romances. You can't explain this sort of thing. We all had invested so much emotion in Mike. He was going to be the guy who would lead the Bulls to their proper place in life, an NBA championship, even though he hadn't actually, you know, won one of the things while coaching a Suns team loaded with talent. But that's nitpicking."

"The Bulls finally made some sense by letting Mike D'Antoni go to the Knicks instead of persuading him to come here. But who was responsible for not hiring D'Antoni as head coach, club chairman Jerry Reinsdorf or general manager John Paxson? Published reports in Chicago and Arizona indicated Reinsdorf met with D'Antoni on Friday in Phoenix, where both have homes. Assuming that happened, Reinsdorf presumably was judging how much D'Antoni wanted to coach here and whether he was inclined to place more emphasis on defense than he did as Suns coach. Er, sorry, but shouldn't those determinations be Paxson's? If so, why in the world would Reinsdorf insert himself into the D'Antoni matter at all?"

"After a week of courting Mike D'Antoni, the Bulls still had reservations, while the New York Knicks reached for the company checkbook. So now the former Phoenix Suns coach has a job in New York and can be crossed off the list of candidates for the Bulls' coaching vacancy. D'Antoni agreed to a deal reportedly worth $24 million over four years. At this point, it appears the Bulls' coaching search, which began on April 17, will drag on for a few more weeks, perhaps into late June."

"The Bulls were ready to talk contract with Mike D'Antoni but never got a chance. So said general manager John Paxson after D'Antoni agreed Saturday to become the New York Knicks' head coach. Paxson, who first interviewed D'Antoni a week ago, expressed surprise that D'Antoni wouldn't wait to meet a second time with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf before accepting a reported four-year, $24 million contract from the Knicks. ''I felt the meeting [last Sunday] went very well and felt we connected on many things philosophically,'' Paxson said. ''On Tuesday, Jerry and I met. Because of our strong interest, Jerry was eager to meet with Mike personally, which happened Friday.'' Reinsdorf hoped to meet again Saturday, Paxson said."

"Mike D'Antoni lives only a few cacti, a couple of rattlesnakes and an estimated 200 yards from Jerry Reinsdorf. But what is proximity when an owner is cheaper than dirt? Reinsdorf couldn't strike a deal with his Arizona neighbor Friday, which only exacerbates the misery of his struggling franchise and prompts thought that he get out of the business before he buries pro basketball in Chicago. The man is hopelessly stuck in the last century, flushing away the momentum of the greatest resource in NBA history -- Michael Jeffrey Jordan -- because he's too cost-stubborn to play with the big boys."

"Mike D'Antoni has agreed to coach the New York Knicks, ending a week-long courtship that involved two interviews with the Bulls. League sources confirmed that D'Antoni, 57, has accepted a four-year deal. The package is believed to be worth $24 million. The Tribune and Arizona Republic reported in its Saturday editions that Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf would meet with D'Antoni this weekend in Phoenix, where both own homes. That meeting took place Friday. "

"Friday came and went without any word on Mike D'Antoni's coaching status with the Suns, Chicago Bulls or New York Knicks. How's Saturday sound? Or maybe Sunday? A resolution regarding D'Antoni's status with New York and Chicago is expected Saturday or Sunday. It might have something to do with the fact that Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf was expected to travel to the Valley, where he has a home. He was expected to arrive Friday and at some point meet with D'Antoni."

"Signs continue to point toward the Knicks New York Knicks landing Mike D'Antoni as coach, and he could receive an offer from Knick president Donnie Walsh as early as today, according to a league source. Meanwhile, the Bulls are either cooling off or not prepared to come close to matching the Knicks financially, despite a report that Chicago would make an offer by tomorrow. The Bulls are talking about interviewing more candidates, and may not make an offer this weekend, putting the Knicks in good shape."

"Mike D’Antoni’s teams are all about speed and spontaneity. His career planning strategy appears to be much more methodical. Ten days after reports surfaced that D’Antoni and the Suns would part ways, his path out of Phoenix remains unclear. The fates of three franchises hinge on his next move. The Knicks and the Chicago Bulls are vigorously pursuing D’Antoni, the 2005 coach of the year. He remains under contract with the Suns, who gave D’Antoni permission to find a new job."

"If the reports out of New York are accurate, the Knicks are ready to offer Mike D’Antoni a five-year contract worth $30 million or more to become their next coach. But one of those reports was wrong when it had the Bulls preparing to make an offer to D’Antoni by Sunday. Sources said the Bulls have no plans to extend a contract to D’Antoni by this weekend. "

"The Bulls are considering hiring Mike D'Antoni strongly enough that club Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns a home in the Phoenix area, will meet with the Suns' coach this weekend, sources said. General manager John Paxson spent parts of Sunday and Monday interviewing D'Antoni in Phoenix. On Friday at the Berto Center, Paxson gathered background on coaching candidates for other possible interviews while still contemplating the good and bad D'Antoni presents."

"Friday was offered as a day of hope for all parties involved to get a resolution on Suns coach Mike D'Antoni's future. There is no deadline, just an expectation that an outline would be provided Friday for just how interested the Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are in D'Antoni. The possibilities remain as open as when the week began, when he interviewed in the Valley with both teams."

"It's a good thing the Phoenix Suns did not give Mike D'Antoni a deadline of today to find another job, as initially was believed, because the future of the Suns' soon-to-be-former coach did not become any clearer Thursday. The Bulls, who remain very much interested in D'Antoni, have yet to extend him a contract offer. A source close to the team's search said general manager John Paxson is sticking to his plan and not worrying about how much time it takes for the process to play out -- even if a bona fide candidate such as D'Antoni is hired elsewhere..."

""I'm not going to worry about a timetable," Paxson said then. That across-the-board philosophy even applies to former Coach of the Year winners like Mike D'Antoni, who no doubt would have enjoyed celebrating his 57th birthday Thursday with a contract offer. Instead, unfazed by media reports that the Knicks were preparing a large offer to D'Antoni, Paxson has made it clear to the Suns coach's camp that he still plans to interview other candidates."

"Mike D’Antoni is likely headed elsewhere by this weekend, but not much progress toward his final destination was made Wednesday. That could change quickly today. ESPN.com, citing NBA coaching sources, reported the New York Knicks are prepared to make a “staggering” financial offer to D’Antoni to prove he is the No. 1 choice to lead that once-proud franchise out of the wilderness. The offer, which could top $30 million for five years, would figure to far outdistance any offer D’Antoni’s other suitor, the Chicago Bulls, could muster."

"If Suns coach Mike D'Antoni could get what he wanted for his 57th birthday today, it would be a long-term contract with just compensation from the Chicago Bulls. An NBA source close to the situation said three things could make that happen: "

"A radio report out of New York late Wednesday said Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni has an offer from another NBA team, but sources indicated that team is not the Bulls, who still intend to line up an interview with Avery Johnson. Bulls general manager John Paxson remained in town for a second consecutive day Wednesday, and the interview with Johnson has not been scheduled. Johnson, fired by the Dallas Mavericks last week, reportedly met in Houston on Tuesday with New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh. Walsh is expected to meet today in New York with Warren LeGarie, the agent for D'Antoni."

"Warren LeGarie, the agent for Mike D'Antoni, told The Post yesterday the Knicks are still in the picture for the Suns coach, and tried to quash the belief the Bulls are clear frontrunners. LeGarie planned to meet with Knick president Donnie Walsh today in New York after flying in from Greece. The Bulls are believed to be D'Antoni's top choice, all things equal, but LeGarie disputed the theory D'Antoni is not a good fit with the Knicks' defense-less, plodding cast. "

"The millions of dollars doled out to professional athletes, including some native Chicagoans, doesn't shield them from the perils ofstreet violence and brazen home invasions. When it comes to targeted armed attacks or random assaults, the list of victims in the last 10 months with local ties includes Antoine Walker, Eddy Curry and, most recently, Rashard Mendenhall. "As an athlete, I think it is a concern because you are dealing with people being robbed in general," said Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who graduated from Mt. Carmel High School and was a teammate of Walker's on the Caravan basketball team."

"As John Paxson still pondered the pros and cons of hiring Mike D'Antoni, a relatively quiet day in the Bulls' coaching search passed with one very important detail. Paxson remained at the Berto Center. Instead of traveling to Houston to follow the Knicks in interviewing Avery Johnson, Paxson and Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf appear willing to pay top dollar only for D'Antoni—if even him. Sources close to Johnson confirmed a Tribune report that the Bulls are cooling on Johnson, who still is owed $12 million from the Mavericks."

"Rick Carlisle is nearly off the market, and Mike D’Antoni — who never officially hit the market — could be the next top-tier N.B.A. coach to land a new job... D’Antoni, who is also represented by LeGarie, is anticipating offers from the Knicks and the Chicago Bulls by the weekend. If that happens, D’Antoni could make a decision by early next week. LeGarie contradicted reports that D’Antoni was already weighing an offer from Chicago."

"While everyone was waiting for the Bulls to name a new coach, the team shuffled its announcing crews instead Tuesday, bringing Chuck Swirsky back to town to do radio and moving Neil Funk to TV. Swirsky, who eventually rose to sports director at WGN 720-AM over a dozen years at the station before leaving for greener pastures in Detroit in 1994, will do radio play-by-play alongside color analyst Bill Wennington on WMVP 1000-AM. Most recently, Swirsky did radio and then TV play-by-play for the Toronto Raptors."

"Mike D'Antoni is on the short list in both Chicago and New York - but he remains the coach of the Phoenix Suns because there are complications keeping both those lists from shrinking down to just his name. League sources confirm that two meetings with D'Antoni and Chicago general manager John Paxson progressed well enough for D'Antoni to be considered the front-runner for the Bulls' position. "

"Mike D'Antoni may still have a way to go before he becomes the next head coach in Chicago or New York, but he has moved even farther from a possible return to the Suns. Chicago Bulls General Manager John Paxson and New York Knicks President Donnie Walsh returned from interviews in Phoenix with D'Antoni to talk to their respective owners about him. D'Antoni has not received an offer from either team and no negotiations have begun, but there should be some resolution in each team's interest by Friday."

" We're not kidding, Chuck Swirsky is leaving The Fan 590. The voice of the Toronto Raptors is heading to Chicago next autumn to replace Neil Funk as the radio play-by-play man for the Bulls alongside Bill Wennington. The married father of three made the unexpected move for family reasons, which is fine with Fan 590 program director Nelson Millman. "

"The salami and cheese doesn't taste quite as good today for a huge number of Raptors fans. Chuck Swirsky, who became as recognizable a figure as many of the players who've come and gone in a decade as the team's primary broadcaster, is leaving to take over the radio play-by-play duties of the Chicago Bulls."

"General manager John Paxson has declined to comment, but ESPN.com is reporting, citing NBA front-office sources, that the Bulls and Phoenix Suns coach Mike D'Antoni are close to agreeing on a deal. But a Phoenix radio station reports that D'Antoni is closer to a deal with the New York Knicks because money is getting in the way of a Bulls' deal."

"Tuesday began with an erroneous ESPN.com report that the Bulls were close to a deal that would make Mike D'Antoni their next coach. The day ended with D'Antoni, the soon-to-be former coach in Phoenix, still employed by the Suns. D'Antoni told general manager John Paxson he wants to coach the Bulls when they met in Phoenix a couple of days ago. He also interviewed with New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh this week."

"D'Antoni has made it clear to general manager John Paxson that he covets the Bulls' job. But D'Antoni also interviewed for the Knicks' job, and talk in league circles centered on D'Antoni's camp using the Knicks as leverage to drive up the Bulls' price tag... The cat-and-mouse game of musical chairs should end soon, with D'Antoni's camp telling both franchises it expects a conclusion by the end of this week. Despite several reports to the contrary, neither the Knicks nor the Bulls had presented D'Antoni with a formal offer as of late Tuesday."

"After interviewing with Knicks president Donnie Walsh in the Phoenix area on Monday, D'Antoni reportedly is headed to Chicago to succeed Scott Skiles as soon as the two sides can agree on a contract, according to NBA sources. Walsh traveled from Arizona to the Houston area Tuesday and met with former Mavs coach Avery Johnson to continue his "due-diligence tour." But Jackson is still regarded as the overwhelming favorite to replace Isiah Thomas. Before Walsh talked to D'Antoni, the Bulls interviewed him on Sunday, apparently coming away thinking that his prolific offensive system will be a good fit for Luol Deng, Ben Gordon and other players who underachieved this season. "

"THIS is what you would call the collateral damage of the last four years of mismanagement at Madison Square Garden, the true measure of just how woefully Isiah Thomas ran the basketball operation, just how completely he ran it into the ground and into complete disrepair. These are all the bills coming due, in a big balloon payment. There was a time, not so long ago, when the job of head coach of the New York Knicks was the most coveted coaching trophy in the entire sport. You had everything you could possibly want in a job description: the greatest stage in basketball, working the most passionate room in basketball, commanding the most lucrative salary in basketball. "

"The Knicks and Bulls may lock horns in a bidding war for Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. According to a source close to the Suns coach, D'Antoni is expecting to receive formal proposals from the Knicks and Bulls by week's end. At least that's what he hopes. The imminent nature of these two offers likely was urged by D'Antoni, who has been told by Suns GM Steve Kerr the club wants a decision by Friday."

"Mike D'Antoni isn't wasting any time in his search for new employment. The Tribune confirmed a report from SI.com Monday that both Chicago general manager John Paxson and New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh have flown to the Valley to interview D'Antoni. He is still technically the head coach of the Suns, but was given permission to seek other employment after Friday's meeting with GM Steve Kerr and team owner Robert Sarver produced little common ground for moving forward together."

"A day after a lengthy meeting to discuss ways to mend the relationship with his bosses, Suns coach Mike D'Antoni was ready to move on - elsewhere. D'Antoni met with Chicago Bulls General Manager John Paxson on Sunday night and New York Knicks President Donnie Walsh on Monday about each team's head-coaching vacancy."

"Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap says he is a "dark horse" for the Chicago Bulls coaching job, but indications are he's a strong candidate for an associate coaching position at the University of Arizona under Lute Olson. Dunlap confirmed Monday he has interviewed for both jobs. Asked if Arizona has made an offer, he said, "No comment.""

"Nuggets assistant coach Mike Dunlap has interviewed for the Chicago Bulls' head coaching vacancy. "I guess the 'fit' part of it is — they're a really young team, and I have a lot of experience with that," Dunlap said. "That was a curiosity of them with me." ...Members of the Bulls' brass, including general manager John Paxson, met with Dunlap in Denver. "I understand there's a process," Dunlap said of the Bulls' coaching search. "But it was a good meeting." "

"By tomorrow, Knicks president Donnie Walsh will have interviewed Mike D'Antoni and Avery Johnson as his decision on whom to offer the coaching job of the moribund franchise takes shape. Walsh had a reservation last night at a Phoenix hotel and was expected to have dinner with D'Antoni. A source said Bulls president John Paxson met with D'Antoni Sunday night, and Chicago appears to be the favorite. "

"While Bulls general manager John Paxson maintained his vow of silence with the media Monday concerning his coaching search, Paxson apparently is doing plenty of talking. After reportedly interviewing Denver Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap on Saturday, Paxson was in Phoenix on Sunday and Monday to meet with Suns coach Mike D'Antoni. Word out of Phoenix is that D'Antoni told Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach. New York Knicks president Donnie Walsh also traveled to Phoenix over the weekend to interview D'Antoni."

"Mike D'Antoni is a man Kobe Bryant considered his American idol when they both lived overseas. He was the 2004-05 NBA Coach of the Year. Avery Johnson is a man David "the Admiral" Robinson considered his little buddy in much the same way the Skipper did with Gilligan. He was the 2005-06 NBA Coach of the Year. They are available. Either one could be Chicago's next pro basketball coach. D'Antoni's team last season had a record of 55-27 and Johnson's went 51-31 ... yet John Paxson has been given a pass by Phoenix and Dallas to take a shot at the open man of his choice. These are not has-beens. They aren't damaged cans from the recycling bin, nor are they nobodies. These are bona fide NBA head coaches"

"Mike D'Antoni has told John Paxson he wants to be the Bulls' next coach, according to sources. Whether Paxson has the same wish remains to be seen after the Bulls' general manager spent parts of Sunday and Monday with the Suns' coach in Phoenix. If nothing else, Paxson is staying true to his word to keep this critically important search wide-ranging and open-ended. Not many searches travel from relatively anonymous Nuggets assistant Mike Dunlap to the high-profile D'Antoni within a wild 24 hours."

"The Bulls will be watching Phoenix in the coming days to see if coach Mike D'Antoni joins the list of available candidates. Depending on how things work out, Bulls general manager John Paxson could be faced with a tantalizing choice between Johnson's discipline and D'Antoni's up-tempo offense. Both have taken home NBA coach of the year awards and produced multiple 60-win seasons."

"KTAR (620 AM), the Suns flagship station, reported late Sunday night that general manager Steve Kerr had granted D’Antoni permission to speak with both the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks about their vacant head coaching positions. That’s a sign Friday’s initial two-hour meeting between D’Antoni, Kerr and Suns managing partner Robert Sarver may have revealed too big of a disconnect for coach and GM to continue working together."

"Suns coach Mike D'Antoni will interview with Chicago and New York about their head coaching vacancies in a sign that he and the Suns brass may have irreconcilable differences. D'Antoni and Suns General Manager Steve Kerr were not available for comment but a franchise source confirmed a KTAR-AM report that Suns management had given D'Antoni permission to interview with other teams."

"Suns coach Mike D'Antoni has been granted permission to speak with NBA teams, including the Bulls and Knicks, according to KTAR-AM 620 in Phoenix. D'Antoni was previously denied permission to speak with any team, Suns GM Steve Kerr told the radio station last week."

"My hero, Larry Brown, got another job last week. Granted, there are a lot of weeks when you could make that statement, including maybe even next week. But we're here to praise, not criticize. In case you thought you picked up an old newspaper, Brown was hired Tuesday to coach the Charlotte Bobcats, his ninth such job in the NBA. Brown is so ubiquitous, he coached the same team in two different leagues. Also, Brown is the only man to win NBA and NCAA titles. Amazingly, he did not do both simultaneously. Again, this is not a rant, but an ode to my insane jealousy. How Brown has conspired to collect so many addresses, not to mention disappearance fees from employers for not working, is testimony to Brown's knack for being flexible, opportunistic and portable."

"Moms and dads out there: Do you really want your kids to grow up to be professional athletes? Some of you see it as the ultimate accomplishment. This is obvious from the amount of time, money and obsessiveness you devote to your budding LeBron James and your soon-to-be Derek Jeter. You like the idea of your talented child competing at the highest level. You see it as the culmination of a dream, yours and your kid's. And maybe, just maybe, you see it as hitting the jackpot. I see Roger Clemens."

"Mike D'Antoni's lengthy Friday meeting with Suns management about his Phoenix future brought little resolution, which is fitting for a Bulls coaching search that is in the same state. Yes, the Bulls would interview D'Antoni should the former NBA coach of the year and Suns general manager Steve Kerr not resolve acknowledged philosophical differences and part company... Any story intimating D'Antoni would land the Bulls' job for sure if he leaves the Suns is premature at best and false at worst. "

"The Dallas Mavericks wasted no time firing coach Avery Johnson on Wednesday, the morning after they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by New Orleans. Now the question is how fast the Bulls will move on Johnson, who arguably becomes the most well-qualified coach on the open market. The Bulls definitely have interest in Johnson for their coaching vacancy and he more than likely is their top target. So far, Rick Carlisle and Mark Jackson are the only candidates to have formal interviews with general manager John Paxson."

"Days like Wednesday are why general manager John Paxson insisted he had no timetable to fill the Bulls' vacant coaching position. With the Mavericks firing Avery Johnson and enough smoke swirling to suggest Mike D'Antoni might walk away from two years and $8.5 million on his Suns contract, Paxson's lengthy list of candidates just got lengthier."