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Pro Sports
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Tuesday, May 06, 2008, 11:05 AM
Suns: D'Antoni can talk with other teams The Asssociated Press PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns granted permission for coach Mike D'Antoni to talk to other teams, with the Chicago Bulls and the New York Knicks apparently the leading suitors. General manager Steve Kerr confirmed Monday that D'Antoni can speak with other NBA teams about coaching vacancies but indicated he still wants to persuade the coach to stay with the Suns. "As we continue to convey, we value Mike D'Antoni as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns and would like him to continue leading this basketball team," Kerr said in a statement issued by the team. "Because he has requested to speak to other teams about their head coaching vacancies, we have granted him permission." Kerr said he would have no further comment "until this process further evolves." D'Antoni, reached by telephone, declined to comment. "I really can't say anything," he said. SI.com's Jack McCallum, who spent an entire season with the Suns while writing a book on them, reported Monday that the Bulls general manager John Paxson and Knicks president Donnie Walsh were flying to Phoenix to interview D'Antoni. Knicks' spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said the team is not commenting on its coaching search. Paxson had no comment. Radio station KTAR in Phoenix first reported that D'Antoni was being allowed to speak to other teams. "It's been well documented we have some different ideas and different approaches," Kerr said the day after the season ended. "And what we have to do is talk and communicate and make sure we can get on the same page in terms of how this organization can get better, how this team can get better." D'Antoni, who has two years worth $8.5 million remaining on his contract, has led the Suns to three Pacific Division titles and two trips to the Western Conference finals in his four full seasons as coach.
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