Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni remains in limbo.
With team president Donnie Walsh leaving his post June 30, uncertainty hangs over the future of D’Antoni, who came in with Walsh in 2008 to turn the organization around.
“I think that will be determined by the job you do,” D’Antoni told The New York Times Sunday. “I’m very indebted to Donnie, but at the same time, I got to go forward and get the team to win. That’s my job.”
D’Antoni has one year left on the four-year, $24 million deal he signed in 2008, and he could be faced with coaching next season without an extension in place.
“I’ve done it before; I can do it again,” he told The Times. “My mind-set right now is just next year to have a great year. That’s all. Nothing else should matter to the players or should matter to me — just have a great year.”
Knicks owner Jim Dolan will decide who will replace Walsh, with many Knick fans openly worried that Walsh’s departure could signal the start of Isiah II.
But The Times lists other possible replacements to succeed Walsh, including Kevin Pritchard, the former Portland Trail Blazers GM; Jeff Bower, the former New Orleans Hornets GM; and Kiki Vandeweghe, the former Nets and Denver Nuggets general manager.
D’Antoni also said he wouldn’t be opposed to hiring a defensive-minded assistant coach, calling it “an option we will look at.” The Knicks consistently rank among the worst defensive teams in the NBA.
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