The Knicks Fix

So Donnie Walsh made several references to a Mike "D'Antonio" today. Newsday columnist Johnette Howard wondered if it was a Freudian slip, considering that D'Antoni just never could beat the Spurs.

Aside from that, lots of questions about the future that really can only be answered in time. Let's take a look at what's ahead now that Walsh has his coach in place:

1. Assemble a staff -- As we reported today, D'Antoni might not be able to take his entire group with him from Phoenix, but we already know that his older brother, Dan, is coming. The other who might join him is longtime assistant Phil Weber, who was a standout at Long Island Lutheran and grew up in Northport. We were able to confirm our speculation from today's story that Herb Williams will remain on the Knicks bench as an assistant coach. Six-plus seasons and counting for Herb. D'Antoni expects to only keep a staff of four, so that final spot may be up for grabs. Longtime Knicks player development coach, Greg Brittenham, should get some serious consideration, but there will be a lot of young coaches pushing for this job. We've already heard that Kenny Anderson -- the Molloy legend and dude who joked about having to sell one of his cars during the NBA lockout and has been coaching on the minor league basketball circuit -- is hoping to get his name in the mix.

2. Prepare for the Draft -- Walsh said he will send Mike D'Antoni to represent the Knicks at the draft lottery next Tuesday and hope he brings good luck. At best the Knicks would love the opportunity to select Memphis point guard Derrick Rose, who is expected to go as high as No. 1 in the draft and is a great fit for the D'Antoni system. There are plenty of point guards to choose from in this draft and that seems the obvious hole to fill, though Walsh has said he usually prefers to go with the "best player available" over filling a need. And if the Knicks do not go for any other point guard, another option might be 6-9 swingman Danilo Gallinari of Italy, whom D'Antoni knows through his Italian League contacts and, with a terrific shot and strong ball-handling skills, is another that fits the system. Gallinari is compares to Toni Kukoc, I'm told, though, at 19 years old, needs a lot more physical development to handle the NBA game.

3. Hire a General Manager -- You can expect Glen Grunwald will remain in place at least through the draft, but it is more than likely that Walsh will look to hire his own guy to run the everyday front office duties. Walsh and D'Antoni both may be in on this decision, so you can figure they will look at D'Antoni colleagues such as Wizards executive Tommy Sheppard, whom D'Antoni worked with in Denver, Bulls consultant Jim Paxson (coincidentally the brother of the GM D'Antoni spurned for the Knicks), former Bucks GM Larry Harris (whom Isiah Thomas almost managed to get to take Zach Randolph's contract) and Raptors assistant GM Maurizio Gheradini, whom D'Antoni knows from the Italian League team, Bennetton. A wild card candidate that must be kept an eye on is Denver Nuggets executive Mark Warkentien, whom Walsh likes because he has a history of revamping rosters and moving otherwise immovable contracts. Warkentien has an incredible track record of making deals that we'll detail down the road if it sounds like he's in the mix. Right now he has his hands full with the Nuggets and their issues.

4. Roster Evaluation -- There isn't much Walsh can do with most of the current roster, but there will have to be a decision made on Stephon Marbury, who is in the final year of his contract ($21 million) and could be a buyout candidate if they decide it best to remove him from the locker room. Another buyout candidate could be the oft-injured Jerome James and a player Walsh will likely try to move is Zach Randolph, whose contract is an albatross. Expect the athletic players -- Jamal Crawford, Nate Robinson, Wilson Chandler, Renaldo Balkman, Jared Jeffries and David Lee -- to have the easiest time fitting into D'Antoni's system.

Interesting story by KC Johnson in today's Chicago Tribune (as most of you already know, Newsday is no longer related to the Trib, but we still like KC). Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf tells his side of things regarding L'Affaire D'Antoni and how he somehow slipped out of the Bulls' grasp and right into Donnie Walsh's lap.

"I'm disappointed in him," Reinsdorf told Johnson. "I don't know what else we could've done. He chose to go to New York knowing there was a good chance we would make him an offer. If he had really wanted to be in Chicago, he would've waited. Instead, he misled us. It's not the end of the world, but it is somewhat rude."

The way Reinsdorf so candidly tells it, the Bulls actually did want D'Antoni. But D'Antoni, after two discussions with the Bulls, including a two hour and 15 minute meeting between Reinsdorf and D'Antoni in Phoenix last Friday, decided he wanted to go to New York. Confidants that I've talked to over the past few days say D'Antoni felt "wanted" by the Knicks. After a season where he felt he was being undercut by management in Phoenix, D'Antoni was looking to go where he felt he had the confidence of his boss.

"They're committed to getting it done," the confidant told me. "It's exciting to have everybody focused on Job 1, which is to bring New York back . . . It’s a challenge."

Perhaps D'Antoni's hesitation with Chicago had to do with John Paxson asking so much about defense during the interview. Walsh didn't ask questions, he made a sales pitch. It included giving him the confidence that he would not be second-guessed by management and he would have all the resources he needed from the Garden vault. And, of course, there's that plan to get under the cap by 2010 so the Knicks can go after LeBron James.

The Bulls could only offer the chance to win now, with a roster that already has talent that could fit in D'Antoni's system. And Reinsdorf said D'Antoni made it seem as if he had no interest in the Knicks, even with those reports of a potentially "staggering" contract offer from New York.

"He said . . . money wasn't the most important thing anyway," Reinsdorf said. "He said he wanted a job where he was going to be happiest. He said he didn't want to coach the Knicks."

What do you know, we found another lie within this process.

But what seems to be the truth is the Bulls really did want D'Antoni. Which suggests the Knicks weren't his second choice after all.

Twenty-four million dollars can make you change you mind rather quickly.

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While we're discussion possibly ways the Knicks can revamp this roster, take a peek at a story in the Denver Post from last week, which said the Nuggets will make changes to their team. That includes, believe it or not, Carmelo Anthony.

Denver Post:
While the Nuggets have given no indication they will actively shop Anthony, the constant drama in the life of their 23-year-old forward has become the source of enough frustration within team headquarters that Denver would be willing to listen if somebody made a trade offer too good to refuse for Melo. The problem? In a league where stars such as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James dominate, it's difficult to come out ahead when trading a singular immense talent for any combination of players and draft picks.

That's a tough contract to pick up because it means you are out of the LeBron sweepstakes, so I don't see it happening. The Nuggets might look to move Marcus Camby, but we remember he originally left the Garden because he walked out of one of those media training workshops. Sometimes there's no going home, but he would fit well in the D'Antoni system and his shot-blocking ability is sorely needed.

Plus, his contract would work short-term. He is set to make $11,250,000 next season and $10,900,000 in 2009-10, after which he becomes a free agent and comes off the ledger.

Didn't the Nuggets have an interest in Zach Randolph before the trade deadline? Things that make ya go hmmmm.....

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So what do we do here at The Fix now that we're owned by Cablevision, the same people that own Madison Square Garden and the Knicks? Why, we expect to get back-door access, rock-star parking and sushi at the press table. I might even start typing my stories with those foam No. 1 fingers.

As for integrity? Don't expect me to change anything (aside from, perhaps, referring to my boss as "Mr. Dolan" instead of things like Jimmy D and D'oh-lan).

As long as I have a comfy chair in the press room, a key to the MSG Training Facility so I can use the gym on game days between the shoot-around and the game and access to the lunch room, we're cool.

And free cable.

But when it comes to basketball, I have a job to do and I believe Mr. Dolan understands that.

For media-related issues, I refer you to Newsday's Media Watchdog, Neil Best, who has all the answers. And whatever answers he doesn't have, he always chooses C. I heard the guy scored a 1480 on his SATs by employing that method.

Heading off to Manhattan for the press conference soon. I'll check in afterward.

The Knicks just announced a press conference for tomorrow at 1 p.m. to introduce Mike D'Antoni has the head coach of the Knicks.

And LeBron James just dunked on Kevin Garnett.

They don't want to read about this in Cleveland, but just about every step Donnie Walsh will take between now and the Summer of LeBron (2010) will be all about getting King James into a Knicks uniform.

As we reported today, much of Walsh' recruiting efforts with Mike D'Antoni involved the gameplan of getting under the salary cap to make a run at LBJ.

Before we get to the meat of the story, let me first correct a few things in the story. First and foremost, Marc Iavaroni's name is misspelled in the story. For some reason, we went with the spelling of another Long Islander, Big Brown owner Michael Iavarone.

Pardon me, I'm an idiot. But as I've said in the past, fallibility is sexy.

More importantly -- and clearly something that will be discussed a great deal -- is the Knicks payroll situation going into the offseason after 2009-10. I wrote that the Knicks have $28 million in salary, which reflects only guaranteed contracts. I failed to include the various options that are also on the ledger that, if all were taken, would increase the number to $47 million.

Let's assume the cap in 2010-11 is in the $60-65 million range. That still leaves the Knicks over $10 million in cap space, which is a start.

But let me show you what the Knicks have contract-wise to deal with between now and then:

Stephon Marbury ($20,840,625) and Malik Rose ($7,647,500) become free agents in 2009.

David Lee and Nate Robinson are both headed toward restricted free agency in 2009. The most the Knicks have to do is give qualifying offers to both -- Lee would get $2,682,049 and Robinson would get $2,911,077 -- and then negotiate with them in 2010. But that opens the door for other teams to submit offer sheets for either (Lee might get a lot of attention, perhaps at the mid-level exception) and Walsh will have to decide if it is worth keeping either for long-term committments or letting them go to stick with the 2010 plan.

Like I said, Fixers, there are going to be some tough decisions.

Another one that is coming in 2009 is Jamal Crawford, who has a player opt-out after next season and may very well take it if he believes he could get more on the open market than the $19,440,000 he would get over the next two seasons if he picked up his option. Keep this in mind, Crawford should flourish in D'Antoni's system, so his offensive numbers aren't likely to drop. So if Crawford opts-out, his $10,080,000 owed in 2010-11 comes off the books.

Quentin Richardson has a player option in 2009 for $9,352,500 that you can expect he will pick up. But he comes off the books in 2010.

Jerome James has a player opt for $6,600,000 in 2009. I wonder if before this point Walsh will look into getting a disabled player exemption for James, who has a litany if physical issues that -- along with an awful work ethic -- has kept him from being physically able to perform. Either way, his contract is off the books in 2010.

Going even deeper, there are team options on three young players for 2010 - Renaldo Balkman ($2,036,920), Mardy Collins ($1,801,029) and Wilson Chandler ($1,255,440). None are guaranteed to be picked up because you can't assume anything.

Everyone agrees it's pretty much a given Eddy Curry will pick up his option in 2009 that kicks in $10,500,423 in 09-10 and $11,276,863 in 10-11. You're stuck with that unless you can find a trade parter.

Zach Randolph's contract is the killer. He is owed $17,333,333 in 2010-11, which is the final year of his deal. Perhaps you can trade him by then as an expiring, but there is reason to believe that Walsh will do all he can to move Randolph this summer. But you'll likely have to take on someone else's bad contract (or two) in the process. Since you're going to need players, the hope is you at least get players who better fit the system and, better fit with Curry in the frontcourt.

In the meanwhile, anything else you do is purely short-term. D'Antoni's system needs strong play out of the point guard position. We already know Toronto will have to make a choice between Jose Calderon (a restricted free agent) and T.J. Ford, who is owed $16.5 million over the next two seasons and has a player option for $8.5 million in 2010-11.

One intriguing option to consider -- longshot, but worth monitoring -- is the situation brewing with Baron Davis and the Warriors. Davis has a $17.1 million option this summer. If he opts out, he is a free agent and the Knicks won't be able to touch him. But if he has any interest in coming to New York, he'd have to take something short-term via a sign-and-trade.

Fixers, this isn't going to be easy. There is a lot of maneuvering to do and some very tough decisions (Crawford and Lee) to make along the way to get to that Summer of LeBron with enough space to lure him away from Cleveland.

A statement was just released by the team:

"The New York Knicks have agreed in principle with Mike D'Antoni to become the next head coach of the team. A press conference will be scheduled upon the completion of the contract."

There is early word that a press conference could come as early as Monday -- there is only one playoff game that night (Boston at Cleveland) -- but nothing has been officially set as of yet.

The fact that the Knicks released a statement likely means D'Antoni officially resigned from the Suns, which had to take place before the Knicks could announce an agreement.

Four years at $24 million is the deal, which we were able to confirm. What's notable is that means next season the Knicks will be paying for three head coaches. Larry Brown should be in the fourth year of his five-year deal. Isiah Thomas is in the second year of his three-year extension. And now D'Antoni starts his four-year agreement.

Good to have money.

Have I said how much I admire and respect Cablevision as a company?

By the way...I owe myself this. Click here for the result of my prediction on the Michael Kay Show.

Mike D'Antoni is your new coach.

Discuss amongst yourselves. I'll blog after my responsibilities to the print side are completed.

L'Affaire D'Antoni has been like reading one of those choose-your-own-adventure books. You start with the fact that Mike D'Antoni has been given permission to talk with other teams....

Now, if you believe his destination will be Chicago, turn to Newsday, the Chicago Tribune and the Arizona Republic.

If you believe the Knicks are legitimately in play, turn to The New York Post, the Chicago Sun-Times and the East Valley Tribune.

And if you will believe anything someone tells you, go to ESPN.com.

Hey, like Buffalo Springfield said, Nobody's right if everybody's wrong.

Despite this reported anticipation of a "staggering offer" from the Knicks, D'Antoni is meeting with Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf this weekend, according to the Chicago Tribune.

This report backs up our story in today's Newsday which, according to a source, said that D'Antoni would be meeting a second time with the Bulls this weekend.

From the beginning this has been mainly about D'Antoni and the Bulls. They were the first to fly to Phoenix and talk to D'Antoni when the Suns gave him permission to speak with other teams. Donnie Walsh arrived the next day.

Walsh does have an interest in D'Antoni and, through people close to him, there is a sense that Walsh is confident that D'Antoni could be successful in New York. But is Walsh desperate to hire him?

He doesn't seem to be.

Not as desperate as the D'Antoni camp has in perpetuating the notion -- through the eager media -- that Walsh and the Knicks are holding a blank check to lure D'Antoni away from the Bulls, who are trying to be reasonable with their contract offer after regretting a long-term committment to Scott Skiles. As the Tribune reported, the idea that the Bulls won't pay because they still owe Skiles a ton of buyout money is factually incorrect.

Skiles is owed $3.5 million, but as per the agreement that number will be paid out over time. The Bulls will pay Skiles $1 million each in the next two seasons and then $750,000 each in the following two. That is hardly break-the-bank numbers for a wealthy team like the Bulls.

Bottom line, if they want D'Antoni, they can certainly match the remaining salary he has in Phoenix, which is $4 million this coming season and $4.5 million in 2009-10.

But if you represent D'Antoni and the New York market is involved with even mild interest, you wouldn't be a good agent if you didn't try to get your client more. The Bulls have no interest in getting into a bidding war with the Knicks.

And the Knicks have no interest in bidding against themselves, which is a refreshing change from the mindset of the previous regime.

More to come. Stay tuned . . . .

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Been making the radio rounds this week around the country -- we've been on in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Atlanta -- and on Friday we made our drivetime debut on the Michael Kay show on ESPN Radio. Go here for a listen.

And be sure you catch fellow Fixer Brandon Tierney's show from 7 - 10 p.m. weeknights on ESPN Radio.