Breaking News: Knicks Hire Mike D’Antoni
May 10, 2008
CNNSI has just reported that the Knicks have hired Mike D’Antoni although there is no word on ESPN’s website almost 45 minutes later and The New York Daily News reported this morning that “The Deal was Shot Down”. Jack McCallum is as big a name there is in NBA reporting and given his close connection with Mike D’Antoni, if he says so, then it is probably true. And while I like D’Antoni, I just don’t see the fit right now for the Knicks. The Suns Euro-system is built on having a specific type of point guard — one like Steve Nash; it is dependent on big men who run the floor well — ones unlike Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph; and it is dependent on good jump shooters who can spread the floor — something the Knicks don’t have. So it is hard to justify the hiring of an offensive-minded coach without the type of personnel that made him successful, however, Knicks Fanatics suggest that D’Antoni should be judged by more than his NBA experience. It seems that defense is what the Knicks need.
This news probably spells one of two things: Walsh has waved the white towel on the Knicks ever playing defense and will maximize their offense; OR expect a roster overhaul. Here are some guesses:
– Unless D’Antoni believes he can work with Marbury who he once coached briefly with the Suns, expect the Knicks to make a play for TJ Ford while offering Jamal Crawford in return as StopMikeLupica recently suggested.
– One of the two big guys has got to go. Expect Zach Randolph to be gone (if so, Amen). Curry, for all his defensive flaws, is more mobile on offense and can be the recipient of some fast-break alley-oops.
– Expect forwards David Lee, Renaldo Balkman, and Wilson Chandler to get more burn as they thrive more during fast breaks.
– Don’t expect Q Richardson to return to Phoenix form. It seems like his off-season back surgery permanently altered his shot.
– Will Nate Robinson spell a miniature Leandro Barbosa?
– Feel free to add to the list…
Update: A full hour later — ESPN has cited SI’s story which has replaced “D’Antoni waiting for Bulls”.
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22 Responses to “Breaking News: Knicks Hire Mike D’Antoni”
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The story just broke on ESPN.
Modi, thanks for the update.
First of all congratulations on your new alliance. I am sure everyone will benefit from this new force. You and StopMikeLupica are top of the line and I am sure the other gentlefolks are as well. Congratulations. I hope this does not mean the end of Cosellout however. That was the joint. In any event, we will add this site to Knicks Fix.
Second, apparently the Daily News can’t get it right if this is true. Even more hilarious is that Walsh is treating the New York press worse than Isiah did. I like the old man’s MO. He denies, denies, denies and then pops the news out early and nationally. This is going to be fun.
Third, I will receive the D’Antoni hire as fun, not necessarily winning fun but entertainment fun. In one sense it almost didn’t matter who they hired because the next two years are going to be tough. D’Antoni cannot run the floor like he used to and we clearly do not have the right mix of players. We have some players, just not the right mix.
There are many decisions to be made and the first concerns who will run the show — point guard. I would be this means Marbury is still on his way out. D’Antoni had a full season with Marbury as an assistant and as soon as he became the coach Marbuey was gone days later. D’Antoni knows and Dolan does not like Marbury. But the almighty Dollar Bill may have the last say on this topic.
Anyway, great to read you at your new venue.
I thought I left a comment, but I don’t see it. The essence of it was “Great to read you, as always, Modi.”
I don’t like this hire at all, even if they are going for a roster overhaul. D’Antoni would be better off with Chicago’s roster, honestly — but John Paxson believes in defense, whereas Walsh seems like the type to give D’Antoni free reign as far as on-court philosophy.
S2N, definitely have my doubts. Part of me is disappointed as I just don’t see it working… but another part of me is excited because of the unknown ahead… how will this affect trades? how will the young guys respond? will Lebron want to play for D’Antoni a few years from now? Etc? once that unknown is known then I’ll know better
I think this is a great signing. Players love playing for D’Antoni and this should raise the Knicks profile tremendously around the league, after the lows of the Isiah administration. Within a few years they might actually have some respect and some free agents who want to come there.
HOLY CRAP! Wow, I can’t believe it. It really does seem like a bad idea. I can’t figure it out at all. I wonder why D’Antoni over Avery? The more I think about this, the more perplexed I get…I feel like the robot about to shut down because it cannot escape some logical paradox….Knicks.hire.run.and.gun.coach…but.do.not.have.run.and.gun.personnel…Knicks.hire.run.and.gun.coach…but.do.not.have.run.and.gun.personnel….
Anyway, MODI, my man fiddygran, you KNOW a hundred times over my feelings on Zbo vs Curry so I’ll just let that lazy dog lie…I think they *will* make a serious (and successful) play for TJ now that Calderon has declared he wants to be a starter…Marbury will be traded…and so will DLee…yeah, I said it.
Crazy summer ahead…alllll abooaaard!!
HOLY CRAP indeed! Can’t figure it out either as I wish that I was a fly on the wall during the interview process.
I didn’t know that Calderon declared that he wanted to be the starter, but that is good news. I won’t write off Marbury 100% though since D’Antoni previously coached him. In either case, I bet that the Marbury decision was made in the interview.
DLee? I think he might thrive under D’antoni because he will maximize his strengths (nose for the long rebound; filling lanes on fast break) and minimize his weaknesses (defense)
we’ll see…
Thoughts: One, the Daily News has been petition hard for Mark Jackson. That turned me off. It was clear to see that Mark Jackson was exploiting the old school NYC connections (as Larry Brown, and Phil Jackson, have in the past) to push for the job. I generally don’t like recycled coaches, but D’Antoni and Avery Johnson (my #1 choice) are top notch guys who are still on top of their game. This is not Larry Brown part 2; this is Pat Riley (NYK Riley, not Heat Riley), part 2. D’Antoni is still coaching at a high level; he hasn’t burned out yet.
As for the personnel… there will be changes, no doubt. Curry seems likely to get shipped out, unless he learns how to hit a three! But a lot of Knicks actually could benefit from a Suns-like offense: Nate Robinson (high 3PT%) for sure; Crawford, Balkman, Chandler, Lee. Jeffries might, too. This is a move gear to creating a system for the young guys to excel in, and probably is a sign that the older guys are being marginized (traded, if possible: Curry, Randolph). Richardson had much success in Phoenix… maybe he can regain his touch.
The likely result, however, for the first year: Unless the Knicks get Derrick Rose in the draft, it won’t be Suns II. It’ll be Hawks II, athlete players running rampant with little smarts, but creating just enough chaos to sometimes mess the opposition… just enough to be around a 37-win team….
Motown: Great point. D’Antoni coaches the US National Team, with Chris Paul, LeBron, Carmelo and crew. My bet is that factored into the Knicks reasoning for hiring him. He can start laying the groundwork for the 2010 free agency class.
Trades on the horizon: A TJ Ford move makes sense, unless the Knicks get Rose in the draft (#2 pick). A move for Melo would be bold, and the Knicks’ don’t have great stuff to offer, but if they don’t get a top-two pick, then maybe the Knicks might offer expiring contracts (Marbury, Rose) plus the pick (let’s say #5) for Melo, to see if the Nuggets would bite (highly doubtful). Randolph for Michael Redd might be re-explored, since that would definitely help the Knicks - they will need a top 3PT shooter. Curry might be given away.
Interesting possibilities….
Melo, according to reports, is no longer an untouchable so there might could be something there…MODI not sayin DLee couldn’t thrive in a D’Antoni system, he could, it’s just that he’s the Knicks’ best asset for trading and I have a feelin there’ll be a whole lotta shakin goin on this summer, roster-wise.
I’m just dyin to see what theyr’e gonna do.
I think in terms of Antoni ( still won’t spell his name with a D because his teams play no D) this was a smart move. The knicks or the bulls job. Easy answer, the bulls are the most poorly ran franchise in the NBA. Even though ESPN wants you to believe its the knicks. Thats just not true.
I mean Antoni had to deal with a cheap owner in phx why would he want to deal with a even cheaper owner in chicago? The bulls are the new generation LA Clippers. They get high draft picks and trade or don’t resign them once their contracts are up.
As for Randolph it is best to trade him. I would keep Curry because he is a big body that can post up plus he finishes strong in the paint. I think the knicks aren’t that far from being a playoff team in the East. IMO trhe raptors have progressed as far as they can with that team and are due to take a step back. Especially with the dumb drafting or Barganni. Since he and Bosh can’t play center and the fact that the team is a bunch of jup shooters that can’t create their own shot (except TJ Ford who they will most likely trade and keep Calderon).
As for trading Randolf to Milwaukee don’t expect that. Milwaukee is trying to get some of that loot from china with Yi and will make sure that he gets every opportunity. Remember that the GM guaranteed him a starting spot to please Yi’s chinese reps. Even though Charlie V was a much better player then him at PF. And their is no way that Bogut is getting traded since it is almost impossible to find a decent center in the league.
But stop mike you are so right about chandler, baulkman, nate and crawford fitting in that suns offense. Man those guys would fit perfectly in that system.
Last I just beg that Avery doesn’t go to chicago………..please brotha please don’t take that job. That is the worst job is the league. Sit out and what for next year. Or if the dude in ATL gets canned take that gig.
I would agree, Origin, if it were the case that the Raptors had no picks in the draft and had no tradeable assets. But that’s hardly the case is it. Toronto’s core group is still in their prime and they’re only one piece away (a solid frontcourt banger) from a good playoff run. The Knicks on the other hand have quite a few slots to fill, no matter what style they eventually settle on.
p.s. yeah, Bargnani was a big mistake. Colangelo should’ve traded down that year (which was his first instinct). However Bargs is not an albatross (only one year left) and Colangelo’s proven he’s a decent horse trader. It’s a lot easier when it’s clear to everyone what is needed. They’ll be fine. Watch.
Charles Follymacher I meant to add in my unless they make a trade to get a good wing player. TJ ford or calderon probably won’t get you that. Most likely only Bosh (who they won’t trade and Braganni will get you that).
There have been rumors of a Barganni for Richard Jefferson trade. Now that would work but I believe Toronto won’t make that trade.
Also the raptors need a frontcourt banger but these are harder to get them wing players.
The knicks are missing pieces. But they have more money to spend then anyone. Over the cap under the cap it doesn’t matter.
Not drafting Brandon Roy or Lamarcus Aldridge will haunt the raptors franchise for years the same way the Mavs not trading Kobe for Dirk when they had the chance this summer.
SML, Avery was also my #1 choice, and Randoph plus young parts for Michael Redd would be incredible… Redd in a D’antoni system would be right back in the all-star game
Folly, good point about Lee as a trade asset, but I still hope we keep him…
Origin, cosign that first post all around
Origin, the only major piece Toronto needs is a solid frontcourt banger. Not a great one, not a high-scoring machine, just some respectable beef to grab rebounds and score a lil bit in the paint. Those types aren’t all that rare. If they could somehow weasel Landry from the Rockets, that’d be a nifty but doable coup. Even Hayes might do in a pinch.
Knicks have money enough to take on back-snapping contracts, sure, but as MODI has pointed out, there aren’t that many (quality) free agents really willing to move around in any given year. They’ll need to do it via savvy trades and picks and that’s always dicey stuff. Gotta move somethin to get somethin and right now they don’t have that many desirable chips, nahmeen? More parts to replace means more potential points of failure. They’re startin off with more than they had 5 years ago, but that’s not sayin a whole lot. They can do it, it’s just gonna take a lil bit.
If the cards fall the right way this summer, the Knicks can be a first-round playoff team next season, but I think that’s about the ceiling (in terms of reasonable expectations).
I hear you Charles Follymacher we can just agree to disagree. But the raptors need more then just a small PF like landry. The main problem is that both barganni and Bosh are too light in the @ss to play center. So a 6′7 PF like Landry isn’t going to do anything.
If someone like Mutumbo was like 30 he would be a perfect fit next to Bosh.
But those guys still need a wing player that can create their own shot. I watched them all year long and if a team was able to cover Bosh one on one and could gurad their jumpshooters one on one. That team was dead………..see Orland in the playoffs.
A player that could create his own shot on the wing would help the team out greatly. Whether its a SF or SG. They need one.
[…] look much better as a top NBA headline read “D’Antoni Waiting for Bulls”. In fact, Sports on My Mind posted the breaking news before ESPN, the local daily websites, and virtually every other […]
Ok, O, we’ll agree to disagree. The only reason Orlando won the series was because Toronto didn’t have anybody to slow down DHo, who produced 20-20s every night. A guy dominating like that is gonna draw a crowd and leave somebody open for a three.
They need some productive beef. I thought Rasho would be enough, but for some reason he hardly saw the floor. I think the calculations were if Bargs could hit some outside shots and draw Supes from paint, they might could do somethin. Bargs couldn’t anything, so that plan blew up and there was no acceptable plan ‘B.’
Raps had zero answer (no part marks, nuthin) for Dwight Howard and that was all she wrote. End of (my) story.
We’ll see what the Raptors and Knicks do this summer and then make our predictions based on that.
p.s. fwiw, Orlando had no one who could stop TJ Ford, yo. When he’s upright, he’s the Flash. Superman vs Flash, doe? You tell me.
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